IKENWA NNABUOGOR reckons returnee Napoli superstar striker Victor Osimhen will lead athree-man strike force programmed to slay Ghana and fly all the way to the World Cup in Qatar in November…
Super Eagles may have lost a few players to injuries, but the fiery attacking line of coach Augustine Eguavoen’s side can destroy any defence in the world to win games for a country eyeing a seventh World Cup appearance in Qatar.
‘Cerezo’ despite enduring a difficult time leading up to the crucial make or mar clash owing to unavailability of some key players, will rely on three important players to “slay” Ghana and proudly fly into Qatar in November.
The “field marshall” of the Super Eagles’ slaying army is none other than the Napoli striker and Africa’s most expensive player, Victor Osimhen, who’s not only returning to the team after missing the last AFCON, but also leading the attacking force to “kill” arch-rivals for the lone ticket of this interesting playoffs ahead of 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Joining him in the double mission is also another returnee, Odion Ighalo, whose bag of experience and goals will help fire Osimhen to greater things and aim for maximum points to hit Qatar.
From the flanks comes the main 2021 AFCON “slayer” Moses Simon from FC Nantes in France, who completes the three-man battalion expected to annihilate Ghana to ensure Eagles safe passage.
Eagles boast of some of the most feared attacking lines in Africa and even beyond as the young striker discovered doing kick-abouts in the Lagos streets, brings extra energy, force, bravado and goals into the game to keep firing the engines in the Eagles attack.
‘Cerezo’ has also succeeded in bringing back confidence into the team, out of which the attack has most benefited and he therefore expects this continue where he left off in Cameroon.
Added to his catalogue of new game plans, was also the return to wing play which made Eagles the most feared on the continent in the 90s.
It was a style that made Moses Simon one Eagles star defenders dreaded to come across in Cameroon.
Moses needed not an extra energy to track back to help out in the defence as former coach Rohr subjected him to, but concentrated fully on his attacking duties after he received the full license to attack from ‘Cerezo’ and the former KAA Gent winger didn’t disappoint.
Though, the right side of the wing attacking play failed to work as Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze’s wings were well clipped, a rejuvenated Chukwueze is expected to make ‘Cerezo’ smile again in the all-important ties against Ghana.
Should Chukwueze bring on his impressive Villarreal performance, ‘Cerezo’ may well soon take a vacation to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for a job well done.
Significantly, all may not be too well with the Eagles rear and the midfield after Leicester City ace Wilfred Ndidi was replaced by Lille new signing Bonke Innocent to add to Eguavoen’s headache, but Ghana would rather blame themselves for not bracing up well enough to stop the Eagles lethal attack that has now been boosted with the return of Osimhen.
The Black Stars will also not forget to roll up their sleeves to prevent a humiliation before their agitated home crowd at Kumasi’s Baba Yara Stadium, but there is also the danger of losing the other Ayew, Jordan, to Covid-19 positive test result, will be a harsh reality to take.
The Crystal Palace striker’s older brother, Dede, has already been ruled out of the playoffs due to card suspension carried over from the 2021 AFCON, the Black Stars may be in for collateral damage that may take a long time to fix.
Ayews’ loss to Ghana could be Eagles gain and it will be seen as Eagles’ coach ‘Cerezo’ Augustine Eguavoen will dust his project for the 2021 AFCON Egypt treatment to lead his country to his first-ever World Cup as a coach.
Osimhen and Ighalo have been ruthless in front of goal for their Italian and Saudi clubs lately and it appears they will not stop in Kumasi and the reverse tie in Abuja as both nurse different World Cup ambitions burning in them.
Ighalo, for one, has an unfinished World Cup business as the memories of his infamous miss against Argentina at Russia 2018 World Cup are still fresh and a return to make amends will only gladden his heart.
Osimhen was considered too young to make former manager Gernot Rohr’s team to Russia despite his impressive displays at Belgian club Sporting Charleroi and the Napoli striker will stop at nothing to fire his side to Qatar and it appears Ghana will be in trouble should both strikers get into their killer mood.
It will also interest the young striker to return to the world stage again, this time as a senior player, having grabbed all the headlines and as well as set a goals’ record as a cadet player seven years ago at the U17 World Cup in 2015 in Chile.
Osimhen has transformed from a cadet player to one of the most sought after deadly finishers in world football and “killing” Ghana to hit the World Cup will only add to his growing profile.
‘Cerezo’ will surely rely on this interesting young striker to also boost his own rating as a coach.
For ‘Cerezo’ the Super Eagles and Osimhen, Qatar may be too far but nigh!
