Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr should be counting his blessings now that the ‘Battling Ram’ he has been looking for has arrived to add more firepower to the Super Eagles attack, IKENWA NNABUOGOR assures…
Two years ago, Gernot Rohr was only wishing a battling ram of a striker was in his team to bully his opponents to submission with a physical presence and basket full of goals as the Franco-German craved goal-filled harvest of goals.
A certain youngster Terem Moffi, who had just archived an eventful stay in the European backwaters in Lithuania to storm Belgium, fitted every bill of the battling ram Rohr was looking for.
Moffi had fired in 20 goals for his Lithuanian side for Belgian side KV Kortrijk to take a massive gamble on the then 19-year-old and the rest, they say, is history.
Rohr’s frantic search for a ‘Battling Ram’ despite having a very rich attacking frontline appeared to have ended with the 22-year-old Ogoja-born star finally making his way to the team on his merit.
From a well-deserved standby selection in the final 2021 AFCON double header qualifier to a full selection ahead of the double friendly against perennial rivals Cameroon, Moffi has finally landed to give his career the international lift it surely desires.
Rohr’s definition of battling ram should come in the mould of former Super Eagles’ striker Daniel Amokachi, who, like Moffi, upped his Eagles game, playing in Belgium for Club Brugge.
Big, strong, daring, bullish as Amokachi was in his heydays, Moffi possesses all of that and most importantly, consummately buries his fair share of goals.
Goals, more goals will gladden Rohr’s heart for a coach who has been given a tall order to bring home the AFCON title from Cameroon next year and the Franco-German would stop at nothing to impress his employers.
The 67-year-old tactician could make his employers proud with their fourth AFCON title after all his attacking line boasts of the most feared strikers in Africa and with the inclusion of the brand-new “battling ram” Moffi, his task could well be mission possible.
Moffi has finished a blistering season in France, scoring 15 goals in all competitions and helping his modest club FC Lorient escape relegation as his stocks continue to rise, admirably.
His incredible debut season also had him make the French Lique 1 Team of the Week a number of times and his goals against PSG, Monaco and Olympique Marseille also made headlines.
Those feats combined to make his Eagles dreams a reality and Rohr had no choice than to finally recognise his “Battling Ram” and may possibly proceed on a vacation now that Moffi is here.
He could still be Rohr’s joker in the Cameroon friendlies and could paint his debut with a goal or two.
Blessed with quick left foot, self-belief and a delightful direct playing style could run the Lions defence ragged should he get his chance with the Eagles.
If he’s not scoring against the Lions, he could be making the goals as he has also proved to be a great team player.
Welcome to the Super Eagles, Rohr’s Battling Ram!
