IKENWA NNABUOGOR reckons Galatasaray forward Henry Onyekuru could be the man to nail Guinea this and lift the Super Eagles to the knockout rounds of the AFCON…
Super Eagles Insist On Dollars
Super Eagles Fired Up To Beat Guinea
From all indications, China-based striker Odion Ighalo will be back in the starting line up to lead the Eagles attack when they file out against Guinea in a Group B clash this afternoon in Alexandria.
It was the former Watford front man who ensured victory for his country in the group’s opener against stubborn Burundi as Eagles managed a slim 1-0 victory.
Coach Gernot Rohr had surprisingly played Ighalo from the bench, preferring to start Denmark-based Paul Onuachu for his AFCON baptism of fire he would not forget for a long time.
Guinea are tougher customers to Burundi and things will get a lot tighter against the AFCON 2012 killjoys.
The catalyst this time around could the Galatasaray star Henry Onyekuru who is expected to make his AFCON 2019 bow.
Currently on a goal in eight appearances for his country, the former Eupen of Belgium ace has all it takes to add to his account should he be considered for action today.
Onyekuru has yet to start a competitive game for Nigeria and as things stand, it will be business as usual as Ighalo most likely to return as the point man, with the Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Nwobi looking certain to retain their starting spots in the seemingly 4-3-3 formation.
Fit again Samuel Kalu could likely also start, leaving Onyekuru most certainly to start from the bench alongside youngster Victor Osimhen.
In truth, hard fighting Guinea will have their eyes fixed on Ighalo and will surely prove hard nuts to crack for the talented striker. As hard nuts they could prove to be for Ighalo, the Shenhua Shanghai striker will surely have a crack at goal.
But the top joker for this revenge game could be Onyekuru – he’s largely unknown to the fellow West Africans who in 2011 stopped Nigeria from qualifying for AFCON 2012, a monumental loss yet to be forgiven and forgotten.
Most importantly, Onyekuru has proved to be a match winner time and time again for Galatasaray with whom he won a league and cup double this past season.
He has goals in his boots, but he has yet to deliver those in full quantity for his country.
Onyekuru got bags of tricks that will definitely put the Guinean defence on their toes and should he not find space to bury chances, he will create them for Ighalo and company to smile home.
Indeed, no matter how Guinea will try to frustrate their more illustrious West African big brothers, Eagles noses are expected to be in front for this encounter and Onyekuru can make all the difference.
