IKENWA NNABUOGOR reckons SD Huesca of Spain exciting midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has finally got his deserved chance in the Super Eagles to sort out things in the middle…
What began as a rumour that former junior international Kelechi Nwakali was to get his long expected Super Eagles invite was finally confirmed when the interim coach Austin Eguavoen named him on a final squad to the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon starting on January 9, 2022.
The former Arsenal starlet had been seen in many quarters as deserving of Eagles invite and permanent answer to Eagles problematic midfield and so maintained calls for his deserved inclusion.
He would finally get wish to be in the team and it couldn’t have come at a better time than in the squad for a major tournament.
Nwakali was the Golden Eaglets midfield general at Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and stepped up his game to the U20s and U23s, but was ignored by the sacked Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr though the fired Franco-German could be excused for his harsh decision due to Nwakali’s not-too-impressive club form.
Nwakali was expected to take his game immediately to the senior side, but his club form was far from its best as his unsettled club run didn’t convince Rohr enough to hand him a call.
Once he did get his senior side invite in the Super Eagles’ B side in an invitational against visiting Atletico Madrid in Uyo, his Eagles call was intensified after posting a sterling performance with a Maradona-like free kick goal, but Rohr refused to bulge, insisting his club form wasn’t deserving of an invite.
Nwakali’s Arsenal romance wasn’t as hot as watchers expected after painting Chile red with breathtaking performances as only loan moves were his memories of Arsenal, who let their long-serving manager Arsene Wenger go soon after the glorious 72-year old Frenchman signed the youngster.
It’s argued that Nwakali’s Arsenal signing could be the reason why the 23-year old was taking too long for him to join his Golden Eaglets’ mates – Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen – who have long established themselves in the country’s senior team.
While Nwakali appeared to have been slowed down by his much-publicised Arsenal sojourn, Chukwueze, who also was courted by Arsenal, settled down quickly in Spain to catch his early flight with Eagles, Osimhen quit Wolfsburg to book his Eagles’ flight from Belgium’s Sporting Charleroi.
Both Chukwueze and Osimhen with AFCON bronze medals proudly dangling round their necks have finally welcomed their missing “ribs” to bring “Chile” to the senior national team.
Interestingly, Nwakali’s arrival has coincided with the period that Eagles midfield has continued to look unconvincing by the day even struggling against less fancied countries.
Has Nwakali finally come to breathe new life to the ailing Eagles’ engine room?
Does he possess all the tools to make the fans forget the retired former Eagles captain Mikel Obi and Victor Moses whose rumoured comeback was finally put to bed by the final 28-man squad to Cameroon?
Has Nwakali finally come to stay to drive this unconvincing Eagles midfield?
Nwakali’s Huesca statistics – 18 appearances, 16 starts, 2 assists and no goal – may not be compelling, but the former Porto II midfielder surely has the qualities of a modern-day midfielder.
Supremely confident and comfortable on both feet and amazing long and short passes, Nwakali may have reserved all to bring out his best for his country in Cameroon and subsequently.
Eagles midfield has struggled to bring on creativity and vision in their play and it’s left to be seen if Nwakali will bring on all those when hostilities begin in Cameroon against Egypt on January 11 in Garoua.
Nwakali has also demonstrated he can hold his own on big occasions and leave an impression and coach Eguavoen may not be totally wrong if he threw him in into the deep end against Egypt.
Nwakali could go on to greater things with his senior national team in Cameroon to finally cement his place in the team after all he’s got all to make it happen.
He needs all the senior national team can offer him now for a talented kid, who could use the AFCON to move away from Huesca and lower league football in Spain.
It appears his time in the Super Eagles has finally come.
