The Super Eagles number nine has struggled to settle down in Napoli and may miss Nigeria’s continental assignments later this month
Former international Daniel Amokachi has urged Gernot Rohr to unleash Paul Onuachu against the Benin Republic and Lesotho as the Genk man is Nigeria’s best striker at the moment.
Victor Osimhen has been the Super Eagles’ number one forward since Odion Ighalo retired from the national team set-up following the conclusion of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The Napoli star has banged in four goals in eight appearances for the three-time African champions. But the 22-year-old is a doubt for Nigeria’s Afcon-qualifying clashes against Benin and Lesotho after suffering yet another injury at his club.
The field is open for others to step in, with the likes of Almeria’s Umar Sadiq, Union Berlin’s Taiwo Awoniyi, and Lorient’s Terem Moffi showing impressive goal-scoring form for their clubs in recent times.
However, Onuachu has been the best Nigerian striker in Europe this term, with the former Midtjylland ace netting 25 goals across all competitions in just 29 matches.
The 25-year-old gangling forward is also a man in top form.
In January, he fired in seven goals in seven matches before adding three more in five games in February.
And 1994 AFCON winner Amokachi expects him to be leading the line in the absence of Osimhen when the Super Eagles line out in Porto Novo against the Squirrels on March 27.
“Paul Onuachu has a better chance to spearhead the attack for Nigeria,” the 1996 Olympic gold medalist said, as per Today.
“He’s the only one, and that’s if the coaching crew knows how to use him.
“What Onuachu is experiencing in the Super Eagles was what Victor Agali faced during his time in the team.
“We didn’t use him well. He was scoring goals when he was in Germany, but the pattern of play in the Eagles did not suit him.”
Onuachu is expected to make a 23-man list to be released by Gernot Rohr in the coming days ahead of the Afcon qualifiers later this month.
But Rohr is known to prefer Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho in the Super Eagles attack whenever Osimhen is not available.
This post was last modified on March 2, 2021 3:38 pm