Thrilled by Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi’s performances in the current English Premiership, football fans in Ebonyi have called for their inclusion in the team to prosecute the World Cup qualifiers. They said this on Sunday in Abakaliki that the duo had been splendid in their various clubs outings and deserved to lead the Super Eagles attacking force in its qualifier against Zambia on Oct. 9.
“They should be drafted as attackers by the Super Eagles handlers in the Oct. 9 World Cup qualifier against Zambia,’’ they said. Iheanacho has maintained his goal scoring form by scoring for Manchester City in its 4-0 win over Bournemouth, while Iwobi provided the needed assistance in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Hull City. Mr Alli Okechukwu, a fan and Ebonyi House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Youths and Sports, called on the national team’s handlers to consider fielding the nation’s best to earn the group’s sole qualification ticket. “The duo of Iwobi and Iheanacho are in great form and has announced their presence at the world stage. “Iheanacho’s form gives Nigeria a psychological advantage over its opponents in the group because he has been scoring regularly for his English club. “His scoring form is not a fluke,’’ he said. Philip Ijeaku, former Flying Eagles invitee called on Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to utilise the attacking endowments of both players in the crucial tie with Zambia in Ndola. He admonished against the over reliance on more established players like Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye who misfired against Tanzania and in previous matches, contributing to the nations AFCON 2017 qualification ouster. “The Eagles missed a barrage of scoring chances against Tanzania and a replica of such performance will put our World Cup qualification hopes in jeopardy,’’ he said. Justin Ndah, an Abakaliki Soccer Viewing Center Operator, urged the Eagles handlers to build a new team around young players who want to make names for themselves. “Iheanacho and Iwobi should lead the attack against Zambia to make regulars such as Ighalo, Moses among others realize they are not indispensable. “We should take a cue from the current performance of the nation’s athletes at the Rio Paralympics to give opportunities to individuals who want to sacrifice in spite of all odds,’’ he said. Mr Johnson Ajah, a petroleum products marketer, called on the Eagles coaches to emulate the nation’s U-23 team and the Paralympic athletes and “spill blood’’ if necessary, to earn a World Cup ticket. “The players showed selflessness and confronted the qualification challenges in spite of the ineptitude of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and that of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). “Young players like Iheanacho, Iwobi, Ogenekaro Etebo, Moses Simon and Troost Ekong should spearhead this onslaught and be ably backed by experienced players like Mikel Obi and Victor Moses, among others,’’ he said. Mrs Ifeoma Ogbuinya, a business woman and soccer buff, urged the NFF to give Rohr a long period to effectively harness the potential of the current young Eagles team. “The World Cup should not be used to judge the capabilities of the Eagles technical crew, especially with the challenge of the short period available to prepare the team for engagements,’’ she said.
“They should be drafted as attackers by the Super Eagles handlers in the Oct. 9 World Cup qualifier against Zambia,’’ they said. Iheanacho has maintained his goal scoring form by scoring for Manchester City in its 4-0 win over Bournemouth, while Iwobi provided the needed assistance in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Hull City. Mr Alli Okechukwu, a fan and Ebonyi House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Youths and Sports, called on the national team’s handlers to consider fielding the nation’s best to earn the group’s sole qualification ticket. “The duo of Iwobi and Iheanacho are in great form and has announced their presence at the world stage. “Iheanacho’s form gives Nigeria a psychological advantage over its opponents in the group because he has been scoring regularly for his English club. “His scoring form is not a fluke,’’ he said. Philip Ijeaku, former Flying Eagles invitee called on Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to utilise the attacking endowments of both players in the crucial tie with Zambia in Ndola. He admonished against the over reliance on more established players like Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye who misfired against Tanzania and in previous matches, contributing to the nations AFCON 2017 qualification ouster. “The Eagles missed a barrage of scoring chances against Tanzania and a replica of such performance will put our World Cup qualification hopes in jeopardy,’’ he said. Justin Ndah, an Abakaliki Soccer Viewing Center Operator, urged the Eagles handlers to build a new team around young players who want to make names for themselves. “Iheanacho and Iwobi should lead the attack against Zambia to make regulars such as Ighalo, Moses among others realize they are not indispensable. “We should take a cue from the current performance of the nation’s athletes at the Rio Paralympics to give opportunities to individuals who want to sacrifice in spite of all odds,’’ he said. Mr Johnson Ajah, a petroleum products marketer, called on the Eagles coaches to emulate the nation’s U-23 team and the Paralympic athletes and “spill blood’’ if necessary, to earn a World Cup ticket. “The players showed selflessness and confronted the qualification challenges in spite of the ineptitude of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and that of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). “Young players like Iheanacho, Iwobi, Ogenekaro Etebo, Moses Simon and Troost Ekong should spearhead this onslaught and be ably backed by experienced players like Mikel Obi and Victor Moses, among others,’’ he said. Mrs Ifeoma Ogbuinya, a business woman and soccer buff, urged the NFF to give Rohr a long period to effectively harness the potential of the current young Eagles team. “The World Cup should not be used to judge the capabilities of the Eagles technical crew, especially with the challenge of the short period available to prepare the team for engagements,’’ she said.
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