Brazil 2014: Keshi faces selection headache
L-R: Balogun, Okaka and Aneke
’TANA AIYEJINA
takes a look at some new players, who if given a chance, or want to
play for Nigeria, could bring more quality into the Super Eagles as
coach Stephen Keshi prepares his side for the 2014 World Cup
Late last year, reports filtered in that Fortuna Düsseldorf defender, Leon Balogun, had indicated interest to play for Nigeria.
Born to a Nigerian father, Cesar Balogun
and German mother, Orfa, Leon thus qualifies to play for the Nigerian
national team and Germany. The right-back has played for Hannover and
Weder Bremen before but he has not been capped by Germany at senior
level.
“I will walk to Spain, then swim across
the ocean, catch a canoe just to honour the call. It will be the
pinnacle of my career to represent the country of my father’s birth
especially because my father was always proud to be a Nigerian” Balogun
told supersport.com.
Just like Balogun, there are several
other players of Nigerian descent scattered all over the world, who
would be willing to add to coach Stephen Keshi’s selection headache
ahead of the 2014 World Cup in June.
Like they say, the more the merrier, but
Keshi sure knows that selecting his final list— from his established
players and those who want to break into the team— for Brazil 2014 would
give him sleepless nights.
Chuks Aneke (Midfielder, Arsenal)
Arsenal youngster, Aneke, could become an
invaluable asset to Keshi as the coach gradually rebuilds a new Eagles
side. The 20-year-old has played for England at U-16, U-17, U-18 and
U-19 levels. He has a long term future with the Eagles if he switches
allegiance to Nigeria.
Currently on loan at Crewe Alexandra, he
has scored two goals and two assists in seven matches. The midfielder
has been likened to Gunners legend Patrick Vieira.
He has shown a great deal of versatility
at Crewe, where he has played as a centre-back and defensive midfielder.
Aneke has all the makings of a future star; he has quality, creativity
and goal-scoring ability.
Chinedu Ede (Midfielder, Kaiserslautern)
Son of a Nigerian father and German
mother, Ede has gone ahead to play for Germany at youth level, winning
the European Championship in 2009. Rugged and noted for his versatility,
he joined Mainz in the Bundesliga on a four-year contract in 2012 but
he has been loaned out to 2 Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern.
Ede is remarkably quick, has good dribbling ability, can play in several positions and is hugely influential in moving forward.
Imoh Ezekiel (Striker, S/Liege)
Ezekiel’s exclusion from the national
team still confounds some of his fans. The 20-year-old striker has been
in tremendous form since he moved to Standard Liege from 36 Lions two
years ago.
His goals have helped fire Standard Liege
to the top of the Belgian Jupiler League. He has eight league goals and
11 in all competitions. Last season, he notched 16 goals overall and
his outstanding performances this term has triggered interests from
French giants Monaco and Lille.
But his steady omission by the Nigerian
selectors may be Belgium’s gain as the player reportedly indicated
interest to represent the European country at international level.
Kenny Otigba (Defender, SC Heerenveen)
Born in Kaduna to a Nigerian father and
Hungarian mother, 21-year-old Heerenveen centre-back, Otigba, has played
for the U-21 team of Hungary but he is yet to commit his international
career to Nigeria or Hungary.
He rejected a second invitation to play
for the Hungarian U-21s thus sparking reactions that he may want to
commit his future to Nigeria.
However, the youngster is presently torn about which country he hopes to represent at senior level.
“My dad wants me to represent Nigeria at
senior level. My mother is a simpler case, but I think that she would
prefer me to choose Hungary.
“One of them will probably be disappointed. Fortunately, I still have time to think about it,” Otigba told csakfoci.hu.
The Nigerian started his European career
at Gyulai Termál FC in Hungary in 2000 before moving to Békéscsaba in
2004, from where he joined Heerenveen six years ago.
Otigba has scored four goals in 12 games
from his defensive position in the Dutch topflight this term and playing
regularly under coach Marco van Basten is a testament to the player’s
huge potential.
Derik Osede (Defender, R/Madrid B)
Born in Madrid to a Nigerian father and a
Spanish mother, Osede has represented Spain at U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19
and U-20 levels, winning the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship
with the U-19 side.
The Real Madrid B centre-back, who also
represented Spain at the 2013 U-20 World Cup, could bring more
competition to Keshi’s central defence.
The 20-year-old is a centre-back with
many qualities. He is quick, decisive and a very well-rounded player,
both physically and technically. He’s a clear example of a product of
Madrid’s academy, having joined at the age of nine and advanced through
almost all the categories.
Joel Obi (Midfielder, Parma)
Although he’s not had enough playing time at Parma due to injury, Obi is an asset to his team’s midfield on a good day.
The former Inter Milan man is an
all-action player whose strengths are his passing, high work rate and
tackling ability if fully fit.
Haruna Lukman (Midfielder, D/Kiev)
Dynamo Kiev midfielder Lukman has been one of Nigeria’s most consistent performers in Europe in the last two years.
Having played at the 2010 World Cup under
Swede Lars Lagerback, Lukman has been in the international wilderness
ever since, despite calls for his recall to the team.
The hardworking, skillful and highly technical player however says he will continue to give his best at club level.
“I have to be more focused in what I do
in my club, the most important thing is to play well for my club and see
if I will be called back to the national team,” Lukman told TVC.
Sone Aluko (Forward, Hull City)
Winger Aluko has been missing for more
than two months with an Achilles injury but he is on the verge of a
return to Premier League side Hull City. He just agreed a
two-and-a-half-year extension to replace the former contract, which
expired at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old made his Nigeria debut
against Ireland five years ago but he has not been able to recreate his
performances in English football in an Eagles shirt. He had represented
England at all youth levels before agreeing to pledge his international
future to Nigeria.
The fast-paced Aluko takes delight in
running rings round defenders from the flanks before delivering
killer-crosses for the front men to deliver.
Stefano Okaka (Striker, Parma)
Born in Italy to Nigerian parents,
24-year-old Okaka however decided to play for Italy at junior levels but
he has been unable to play for the senior national team.
The deadly and powerful striker will
definitely give Keshi’s present strikers a run for their money if he
decides to commit his international future to Nigeria
Tiago Ilori (Defender, Liverpool)
Liverpool central defender Ilori, has a
Nigerian father and Portuguese mother but represented his mother’s
country at the 2013 U-20 World Cup.
Ilori’s assets are his technique, composure and tactical reading of the game.
