Victor Osimhen is the Super Eagles first-choice striker, but in his absence Paul Onuachu can also shoot the country to AFCON glory in Cote d’Ivoire.
Coach Jose Peseiro’s other worthy options are Terem Moffi and Kelechi Iheanacho, who have both yet to see a minute of action at the AFCON.
Onuachu only needs the coach him more confidence as he can flourish in the 3-4-3, which allows the wing backs Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi to deliver crosses for the 2.01 metres tall centre-forward to finish off with his head.
He can also put in a decent shift grafting deep as he started out as a midfielder and has a good touch for a big man.
Onuachu has been the direct substitute for Napoli striker Osimhen at this tournament, coming on late in the games against Equatorial Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Angola.
Even in the limited time he has got in Cote d’Ivoire, he has shown he is back on form.
He has thus far scored three goals in 21 appearances for Nigeria after he made his Super Eagles debut on March 22, 2019 as a late sub in an AFCON qualifier against The Seychelles.
He opened his goals account for the Eagles in sensational fashion four days later when he scored within a minute of a friendly against Egypt played in Asaba.
Before the 29-year-old striker set out for the AFCON as a late replacement for injured Sadiq Umar, he had netted nine goals in 15 appearances for fourth-placed Trabzonspor.
Onuachu, who is on loan from English Championship club Southampton, has got his career going again after he bombed in the Premier League last season.
He failed to score in a dozen appearances as ‘The Saints’ were relegated to the second-tier English league.
This was a sharp departure from his time in Belgium with Genk, where he scored goals for fun to finish as top scorer of the league in the 2021/2022 season.
It is a huge minus for us to lose the services of Osimhen in the semis. Those audacious threat to opposition defence will be missed. His invaluable goal instinct shall be missed, and the restlessness his presence plunge the opposition team into which disorganized them shall be missed greatly. We need to sweat to have him play