IKENWA NNABUOGOR insists that Genk striker Paul Onuachu could still do the business for the Super Eagles in front of goal and as such Rohr should keep faith with him…
Even Nigeria’s record top scorer Rashidi Yekini didn’t start scoring immediately he was capped in 1983.
It took him a year and half to score his Eagles first goal and then the torrents of goals rained for the undisputed top scorer in African football.
Coach Festus Onigbinde saw his potential and continued playing him until he found his shooting range and the rest, they say, is now history.
It was also the case with Emmanuel Emenike and even Odion Ighalo.
Paul Onuachu may not have warmed the hearts of the ever critical Nigeria football public, but he’s got the potential to score his way to national acceptance.
Many may have drawn their conclusions to side step the giant striker on account of his no-goal showing against Algeria in the recent friendlies but critical analysis of the game showed it wasn’t entirely his fault.
The former Midtylland striker was not helped to punish the well prepared Algerian defence by the Eagles’ midfield that failed to provide the spark for him to make hay.
Just like he’s proved in Belgium, netting regularly from crosses from the wings, those were in terribly in short supply in the Algerian friendly as wingers Samuel Chukwueze and Samuel Kalu were also kept quiet by the disciplined North African defence.
Chukwueze, for one, is not known to deliver crosses to the target man with only Moses Simon the wideman who could.
What could Onuachu have done in this regard?
It will be unthinkable to judge Onuachu based on that game that got the Eagles struggling and chickening out against the defence of the African champions.
Onuachu is complete – good height, excellent head and great with the ball on his feet and puts his fair shift when the team have to defend their goal.
What else does he need to shine as a striker at full international level?
Gernot Rohr, must as a point of national service, not toy with the idea of dumping him because he still got a lot to offer his country.
He remains a good option when the Eagles need to attack with the long ball.
And contrary to what Rohr has argued, there will be times when the team will have to alter their style to that of the player so as to get the much-needed result.
At his club, he not only enjoys the confidence of the coach, who he previously played for at Danish club FC Midtjylland, but has top-class wingers who deliver the crosses from which he has done serious damage on the opponents.
Rohr has to give Onuachu the confidence when he puts on the green-white-green shirt as well as the personnel that will compliment his incredible aerial prowess.
Onuachu, I insist, still has a big future with the national team and cannot be cast away especially when he continues to score in Belgium and he does not get the support he needs in the Eagles.
