“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou
The dismissal of Gernot Rohr as the coach of the Super Eagles was greeted with excitement in Nigeria. According to fans’ perception, which was confirmed in the gradual decline suffered by the team under his watch, Rohr had far outspent his best years.
He ignored in-form players to settle for his known lieutenants who brought little to nothing to the team in his final days. While Rohr gave many opportunities to new players in the team, and invited many new faces, he was hardly courageous enough to have them compete for places on the team.
Rohr has since left but one of the victims of this disingenuous moves was Anthony Nwakaeme. Since Nigeria invited the former Hapoel Beer Sheva attacker in a dead-rubber World Cup playoffs against Algeria, he was never invited again, albeit unjustifiably. It’s time to correct that injustice by the new men in charge.
Other than that inconsequential game, which Nigeria went on to lose scandalously as a result of fielding an ineligible player, Nwakaeme’s impressive statistics in Turkey has seen national team handlers turn a blind eye.
Current Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen in his defence of Ahmed Musa’s invitation said his presence in the team is honorary. As historically significant, yet morally inappropriate in sports as that sounded, that the coach ignored the most impressive Nigerian in the same league Musa plies his trade is somewhat inexcusable.
Nwakaeme is a journeyman. His career has been nomadic and has constantly had to prove a point at every turn of his long career. He’s proving another point again. Call him a late bloomer and you won’t be wrong but that he’s hot is also a cold fact.
In Trabzonspor, currently leading the Turkish Super Lig with an 18-point gap opened at the top, Nwakaeme has developed as arguably their most important player in the last four seasons. In his first season, he contributed 10 goals and 10 assists in 27 league games and the combination of his goal contributions has been the highest until now.
With injuries faced, and COVID-19 still a company of disappointment, the attacker has scored 11 goals this season and assisted 10 times in 23 games. In his last four, he has scored five goals and is easily one of Nigeria’s most lethal and complete attackers in European football. That he’s consistently ignored despite being the most consistent on paper beggars belief.
Nwakaeme has grown during the years, and has registered his name as a fans’ favourite for the Black Sea Storm. He was so revered that fans built a statue of him at the club to etch his immortality. At 32, he’s being tied to a new 3-year contract which may see him become the club’s highest earner.
Numbers to the defense of an attacker
Statistics may sometimes give less than you want of a player, but it paints a picture of impact.
Football is developing so much that many scouts and selectors pick simply based on numbers, but that may be a dangerous road to ply.
However, when pictures also back statistics, then there’s a better basis for a good inference and that’s what Nwakaeme has shown. Numbers are always to his defense, but so are the little key details seen by the normal and technical eye.
With 21 goal contributions in the 23 games he has featured in this season, and with nine games left to the end of the campaign, Nwakaeme has beaten his personal best record with the club and has set a new one.
There’s no justifiable reason for his exclusion, not even his age. Nwakaeme has gotten better with age and his 7.50 average rating speaks volume of his form.
In the Turkish Super Lig this season, he has made the team of the week 7 times, with an average of 79 minutes per game.
He scores every 165 minutes with an average of almost a goal in every two games. He creates almost at an equal rate. His playmaking abilities as shown in his 10 assists this season is the highest of any Nigerian attacker in Europe. Only Sadiq Umar with 7 assists this season in 26 games comes close.
Nwakaeme also completes an average of 2.5 dribbles per game, and has created 14 big chaces this season, instructive of his ability to bring others into play. With his size and height enough to hold off defenders, Nwakaeme is a player many have openly stated, is difficult to handle.
His heatmap shows his area of prowess. He plays on the byline and cuts in with the overlapping full-back taking the space behind him. With an ability to shoot from range, especially in and around the final 18, and with great precision, he also has a strength not seen of most Super Eagles attackers at the moment.
While Rohr ignored Nwakaeme almost throughout his stay as the coach of the Super Eagles, it’s high time national team selectors cast their net wide again and invite a player who has always proven himself good enough.
Honour, although is due to whoever deserves it, but so is a chance to who has proven himself worthy of it.
I really think this guy has proven himself again and again as a player that should be in the SE squad
This is the hight of injustice. Even if he had committed unforgivable and unforgettable sin against the former coach, could this coach also consider it against him. What offence did he commit that cannot be forgiven him. I don’t really know why he’s being ignored while injured and inactive players are being invited to the national team. It’s not fair.! What has he done to deserve this treatment. Whatever be the case this is INJUSTICE.
Maybe they should invite strikers only to the team. At best only 3 strikers in a game….. His form does not necesarily translate to success in the super eagles team. Those calling for him should take a chill pill at the moment, we may experiment when we arrange friendlies and invite him. I struggle to understand the belief system that once a player starts scoring consustently for a month, then the coaching crew is doing something wrong of they have not called him. There is a reason why football is a team game.
Anthony Nwakaeme has been performing very well for the last 5 years . I took notice when he played in Isreal for Hapoel and then moved to Turkey for Trazponsor. Reminds me of legendary striker Rashidi Yekini.
Are you sure this player has been scoring for just a month? Just say you haven’t been following him, this guy have been consistent for more than three years delivering for his club
I thought I was the only one aware of this guy ,
On current form and consistency, he comes tops above all super eagles invitees new and old .
It’s probably his age that is keeping him out of Europe elite clubs otherwise his records are very loud and undilutedly clear .
We need our best legs not honorary ones .
Whoever knows Eguavoen / Nfa or Nff , should tell him to invite this guy , otherwise posterity n those who believe in justice , equity n fairness WILL never forgive him .
We have players to make us proud at Quatar if we put the right pegs in the right holes.
I remain Mac Anthony ,
Las Vegas Nv USA .
The problem is nff. Why did pinnick not visit turkey to see this guy but preferred going to england to see our boys in the epl. What about dessers who is scoring goals even when substituted, yet ighalo who plies his trade at a lesser league is constantly called upon. Any player who doesn’t comply with nff’s demand cannot make the team whether you are fit or not.