A “Bright” star comes along to shine through for his country for a brand-new start as Osayi-Samuel joins up to add to coach Jose Peseiro’s rebuilding process, IKENWA NNABUOGOR opens his arms to this exciting right back or wing back…
If there was any great thing Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has done since he took up the challenge to put the pieces together, it would definitely be adding Fenerbache wing back Bright Osayi-Samuel to his team for the much needed continuity he badly desires.
The former Queens Park Rangers ace has finally landed as a brand-new Super Eagles to justify his impressive performances and consistency over the years at his club.
Peseiro handed the Okija-born star his well-deserved chance as the Portuguese and his wards will visit Lisbon for yet another tough test in a friendly against his fellow countrymen on November 17.
Peseiro continues his tough journey with the Super Eagles with this first-ever encounter between the two countries as he searches for his third win on the saddle that has seen him already lose three games.
Peseiro opted for more legs on the back four generally as concerns on the form of the actors continue to heighten tension with the invite of Osayi-Samuel adding more options on the right back.
Originally a midfielder, Osayi-Samuel’s versatility saw him converted to right back and wing back and he’s been flying down the right wings for Fenerbache lately which has eventually caught Peseiro’s eye.
Torino’s Ola Aina, currently seeing the doctors, is unavailable for this crucial Portugal exchange, though Empoli right back Tyrone Ebuehi made a return, but Peseiro thinking up competitive edge going forward, left nothing to chance by extending an invite to the Fenerbache star.
Osayi-Samuel had been knocking on Eagles doors since his time at QPR, but wasn’t considered for a look-in but continued to up his ante since moving out of England and doing his thing at Fenerbache which never escaped Peseiro’s quick lens.
Peseiro has not been having it easy busying his head in the hottest football seat in Africa and he’s leaving nothing to chance to paint his Eagles stint in Rainbow colours.
Part of his resolve to put a gloss on his tasking performance-based contract with the football apex body was to quit the business-as-usual practice of inviting less competitive irregular players overseas to do business with super regular players, hence, his blooding previously uncapped duo of Osayi-Samuel and Portugal-based defender Bruno Onyemaechi, who have been flying with their clubs.
Former Watford midfield stalwart Oghenetaro Etebo and Orlando Pirates super regular defender Olisa Ndah also benefited from Peseiro’s brave heart and soul, by returning to the team on account of their solid performances for their clubs in Greece and South Africa, respectively.
The Portuguese 60-year old gaffer isn’t done yet to making his Eagles’ sojourn an unforgettable one as he intensifies his efforts to convince Italian-born Atalanta defender Caleb Okoli to dump his Azzuris’ wishes to join him on the Eagles flight, but it remains to be seen if the 21-year-old star born in Vicenza, Italy, to Nigerian parents will dump his country of birth for the country of his father.
Peseiro had not hidden his love for Osayi-Samuel who hasn’t been capped at any level by England despite his impressive performances for Blackpool and QPR, followed up on his progress before his eventual invite and it appears Peseiro’s worries at the Eagles right back will be gone for good.
Competition for places, especially in the back four, excites Peseiro with his recent recall of Ebuehi and Ndah, and his love for Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma reaching a crescendo, it appears he will get it right going forward.
The previously reviewed “Oyibo Wall” of Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong has past its best days and Peseiro is thinking and planning ahead.
Balogun’s lost speed at 34 and getting on a bit, Troost-Ekong getting his competitiveness back after a long time in the dugout, Peseiro is fast thinking up successors which could include Okoli, if he agreed to pitch tent with Nigeria.
Peseiro’s got a triple order on Osayi-Samuel as the Fenerbache star is also very comfortable delivering crosses from the wing back position as well as doing his thing in his traditional midfield role, of which he had been converted.
Osayi-Samuel’s also full of other packages – he’s made of a sterner stuff, quick, tactical and technically savvy, hard tackling and a team player to complete a full package Peseiro has ordered from Turkey.
Osayi-Samuel’s got all it takes to succeed in the Super Eagles judging by club form over time, which has seen him make over 228 club appearances and Peseiro surely hit the bull’s-eye on this, but before he settles to return the favour, welcome to Super Eagles, Bright Osayi-Samuel!
