Connect with us

SPORTS

Play Iheanacho to ease goal scoring burden on Osimhen, Akwuegbu urges Peseiro

Published

on

Benedict Akwuegbu, 2000 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) silver medalist, on Monday called for the inclusion of Leicester City player, Kelechi Iheanacho, in Super Eagles team in their quarter-final match against Angola on Friday.

Akwuegbu said this in an interview with our correspondent on Monday.

He advised coach Peseiro to explore Iheanacho’s midfield talents. “Super Eagles of Nigeria performed well during the match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon beyond what we expected.

“The Super Eagles have the talents; they only need to play more as a team and get the midfield right. With this team, Nigeria can go far in the tournament and probably win it.

“For me, the Super Eagles need the experience of Iheanacho to reduce the burden of goal scoring on Victor Osimhen.

When people talk about Osimhen not scoring I do say that the pressure is too much on him.

“Osimhen is a great guy with good instincts for goals; his creativity in the team has been commendable so far, but the pressure is too much on him as a lone striker.”

Akwuegbu was emphatic that the team needed Iheanacho: “I think the team needs Iheanacho to ease the burden on Osimhen, playing with a lone striker with Osimhen in the front has put a lot of pressure on him.

“Iheanacho is the right man that can play behind Osimhen, or rather as attacking midfielder.

“Most of the time we have won AFCON, we have used two strikers, either during Rashidi Yekini’s time or in 2013 when we had Brown Ideye and Emmanuel Emenike.

“If Osimhen has more room to operate against Angola, the load of goal scoring will be shared. We don’t have anything to lose if we use two strikers or make use of attacking midfielder who has a goal instinct,” he said.

Olanrewaju Akojede

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel