Former Saarbrucken attacker, Jonathan Akpoborie has weighed in on the invitation of Odion Ighalo ahead of Union Berlin striker, Taiwo Awoniyi.
Akpoborie, a former Super Eagles attacker said Awoniyi would have offered more strength, expected of African football than the Al Hilal attacker.
He said games like Nigeria against Ghana needs strength and Awoniyi offers more in that area than Ighalo.
“Even though we do have a lot of attacking options, I do not have anything against Odion Ighalo being in the team but I believe in an African game like that where strength is needed, I don’t think he should be the person Nigeria should invite right now,” Akpoborie told Soccernet.
”The kind of Awoniyi should be in that team because those are the people that would use strength to accomplish what we want on the field of play.
“However, if you’ve been invited, the coach has seen something and that’s why he has invited all of these players. We wait and keep our fingers crossed and hope that we arrange ourselves very well for our team to do well.”
Mr.Akpoborie most of Ghanian players recalled are coming from Europe so they will play soomth football than local players who use their strength; so Ighalo can deal with this style because has been in Europe for many years , has played in Granda , Spain; Udinese , Italy; Watford and Manchester United, England; I think.Ighalo is better than Awoniyi , Ighalo scores ground and corners goals with smoothly , docile style, but Awoniyi somtimes has hard lameness when he shoot on box or from distance; Ighalo is a box striker like Osimhen but Awoniyi is less than Ighalo.
CONFIRM
Thanks Alpoborie, yes I enjoyed your write up because in Africa football is all about strength.
However, we need experienced players like Odion who is still banging goals.
Mental strength will every time surpass physical strength. I guess Odion Ighalo has both and with the combination of Osimehien we should be at Coast and dry.
That Ighalo is older than Awoniyi doesn’t mean he’s weaker. Ighalo still has much strength, both mental and physical. I just feel we should allow the technical crew and players concentrate and do their job. Ighalo is still banging in goals and he has the energy and skills to help the Super Eagles get to Qatar. Awoniyi will surely get another opportunity some other time. You don’t buy experience in the market. Praying for victory for the Super Eagles come Friday in Ghana.
Our team selection is never right. I believe that Awoniyi and Onuachu are better than some of the Attackers named in the team based on form.
Again, what is the Reserve goal keeper of Enyimba doing on the list? We have better Keepers than him in the Nigerian professional league.
Well without a doubt,Ighalo is far better than Awoniyi
@Hassan Tia
May God bless you in this one.
You spoke my ultimate mind .