The news of Victor Moses’s comeback to the Super Eagles died down before the air waves were heated as Austin Eguavoen quickly put the Spartak Moscow winger back in the archives, IKENWA NNABUOGOR wonders if the caretaker coach was right in his decision…
Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr was looking at the bigger picture in Qatar by concluding plans to bring back retired Eagles winger Victor Moses for the much-needed experience back in the team.
Rohr had lamented lack of leadership and experience in the team as well the dearth of vision, grit and creativity in the Eagles midfield, hence the calls for return of Odion Ighalo and Moses.
Rohr was fired before he could conclude the Moses’s project and the new man in charge Austin Eguavoen dropped the idea, but named Ighalo in the final squad list to Cameroon, thus ending Moses’s comeback talk.
Was Eguavoen right to shut Moses out and take Ighalo to Cameroon knowing full well how frantic Rohr kept the chase for the duo?
Many would have argued that since Ighalo eventually played his way back to the Eagles, Moses would also have naturally followed suit since the Eagles midfield was the most hit of the unimpressive Eagles.
Besides, Moses’ experience and general ability are good assets to the team going forward and none in the Eagles’ engine room lately, matches him in almost everything.
Eagles midfield has seemingly suffered since Moses and former captain Mikel Obi left the scene leaving the team at the mercy of even less illustrious opponents.
Eguavoen would also justify his decision to keep Moses sipping choice wines in his retirement party by handing fans’ favourite Kelechi Nwakali his much-expected invite.
The 22-year-old’s inclusion was good music to the ears of fans who believed the former youth international was good enough for the team and he ought to have long been in the team.
Naturally, Nwakali got lots of everything in bags and ready to justify his inclusion in the team but he’s nowhere near the AFCON experience as 2021 Cameroon AFCON would be his first and major outing for the seniors.
Nwakali’s yet to be tested in the senior side, but technically and tactically, the youngster posseses all the abilities to stand to be counted.
Will Eguavoen now book his best vacation spots now that he’s got Nwakali on the board and shut out the experienced Moses?
It will also be argued that since Ighalo was named in the team to add experience and leadership in the Eagles attacking line, same largesse should be extended to Moses to breathe the much-needed life to the ailing Eagles engine room.
Experience cannot be wished away nor bought in any exotic supermarkets anywhere in the world as Eagles midfield currently appears to be lacking it.
Leicester City holding midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is just 24, but appearing to be in his 30s as his game suggests though seems to cover his territory perfectly well, but then experience is key and cannot be bought.
Everton’s Alexander Iwobi is yet to completely stamp his authority in the midfield, completing the Eagles’ engine room of players below the age of 30.
Moses at the ripe age of 32, adequately equipped with AFCON experience and big-time football at the highest level, should be expected to lead the charge of these talented youngsters.
Only ‘Cerezo’ Eguavoen could explain why he left him out.
Moses was one of the major reasons Eagles became the three-time African champions in South Africa in 2013 and carried on his superlative performances for his country until he hung his boots immediately after the Russia 2018 World Cup.
There were no dull moments in the Eagles engine-room during Moses’s time as the former West Ham winger not only made goals, he also scored them and committed cynical defenders to foul him to the Eagles advantage.
Moses’ midfield was criminally nowhere the pedestrian nature of Eagles’ midfield of today as it has remained ordinary causing lots of panic situations to the team and the fans alike.
No doubt, Moses could have made all the difference in Cameroon and in the play-offs to the World Cup in Qatar as well.
