The German manager’s decision to leave the prolific forward out of Nigeria’s two engagements in March continues to look like an unwise move every passing minute
Snubbed Super Eagles striker Paul Ebere Onuachu powered Genk to the final of the Belgian Cup after scoring yet again in his side’s 2-1 triumph over Anderlecht at the Lotto Park on Sunday evening.
The Nigerian star was the hero for Genk, as has become customary this season, lifting the visitors to their third consecutive win in all competitions.
Vincent Kompany’s men held the home advantage in Brussels, but it was Onuachu who struck the first blow in Brussels to hand Genk the opening goal as he netted his second goal in the cup competition.
Matthew Miazga’s own goal on the hour-mark then handed Genk a two-goal cushion before Anderlecht’s Adrien Trebel reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute of the clash.
The 17th-minute goal was Onuachu’s 27th strike this season, leaving him just three goals shy of the magical 30-goal mark in just his second year in Belgium.
The 201cm tall forward has 25 goals to his name in the Belgium Jupiler Pro League and two others in the 20/21 Beker van Belgie.
This remarkable goalscoring feat makes Onuachu Nigeria’s most prolific goalscorer in the world at the moment, outshining the likes of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Crotone’s Simy Nwankwo, and Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, despite his first-ever Premier League hat-trick for the Foxes.
Yet, Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr is convinced the Genk star is not suitable for the Nigerian national team and has only placed him on the standby list ahead of the side’s Afcon qualifying games later this month.
While the snub has generated more than a bit of controversy among football lovers in the country, it has only fired up Onuachu to continue doing what he does best.
The former Midtjylland ace responded to Rohr’s controversial decision in the best way possible: scoring in Genk’s 2-0 triumph over Cercle Brugge last weekend before finding the back of the net against rivals Anderlecht.
Genk will face Standard Liege, who beat AS Eupen in the other semifinal encounter on Saturday in the final of the Belgian Cup, presenting Onuachu with a chance at lifting his first trophy in the country.
