Nigeria's attacking options may be stealing the
headlines, but Stephen Keshi has one or two other big decisions to make
across his starting XI
FEATURE
Who should start at left-back for Nigeria against the Republic of Congo and South Africa, Elderson Echiejile or Juwon Oshaniwa?
Echiejile plays for AS Monaco in the French Ligue 1 while Oshaniwa plays in the Israeli Premier League for F.C. Ashdod.
Does that entirely answer the question? Not quite, unless, of course, you are one who is easily swayed by big names.
Though the pedigree and size of the club where a player plies his trade does give an insight into the quality of the said player, it ought not to be the sole parameter for evaluating the player’s competence level.
There are plenty of examples of players who have become big flops at big clubs.
Current form, which is ascertained by combining the number of appearances, total minutes-per-game, goals, assists, defensive and offensive play etc., is perhaps a more reliable guide in deciding such intricate matter.
In this feature, we try to make a case for both players who are vying for a starting berth in the Super Eagles XI for the upcoming Nations Cup qualifiers, based on their current form, and perhaps past involvements.
The case for Oshaniwa
No matter how you look at it, Oshaniwa has been more than just an understudy to Echiejile. He is perhaps closer to being a rival than a mere back-up.
The Ashdod FC left-back has started six of the Super Eagles’ last nine games. His run at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil was as a result of a pre-tournament injury picked up by Echiejile. However, he held his own against top class opposition, making sure his senior and rival was not entirely missed.
Oshaniwa may not possess the ability to bomb forward or even score goals like Echiejile does now and again, but he sure knows how to put in an uncompromising tackle, sometimes overzealously clearing both ball and man—old-school style, if you like.
At club level, he is an ever-present for the Israel-based side. And though he may not be in the spotlight, his relevance for the team is unquestionable. The quality of the Israeli league may not be up there alongside the English Premier League, for example, but it is certainly not the worst out there, and thus deserves some credit.
When the team lost to the Falcons of Jediane in Khartoum, the Big Boss unconventionally shook things up in the team for the return leg.
There were little or no doubt as to whether or not to drop the fumbling Echiejile from the left-back position.
Why?
Because of the faith in Oshaniwa’s ability. The 24-year-old stepped in, stepped up and helped the Eagles claim a massive win in the return leg.
The Big Boss was obviously elated with the impression the players he had injected into the starting XI gave of themselves, confirming that no one is indispensable. If he does go ahead to retain the same line-up in the next game against Congo, every single one of them, including Oshaniwa, would have earned their place.
The case for Echiejile
Many thought finding a replacement for Taye Taiwo was going to take eternity, little did they know that what was been sought for in Sokoto was right under their nose.
The likes of Celestine Babayaro, Ifeanyi Udeze and the aforementioned Taiwo are all remembered for their blistering pace, fierce strikes, and quite interestingly, eye for goals. (I still remember Babayaro’s goal at the 96’ Olympics final against Argentina; and the celebration? Classic!)
And these are attributes not lacking in Echiejile.
The 26-year-old carries pace, power, and killer instincts when in advanced positions.
Echiejile’s position as Nigeria’s number one left-back is no surprise at all. He rose to prominence under the watchful eyes of the fans, growing from a naïve pupa to a courageous, beautiful butterfly.
His summer move from Sporting Braga to AS Monaco confirmed his steady rise up the ladder as an elite defender who knows his onions.
True, the team he was part of underwhelmed massively in Sudan, but it was a collective plunge into mediocrity rather than an individual’s faux pas. The player (and some others) paid the price for a dip in form and was rightly axed from the starting XI in the reverse fixture.
However, since then, he has undergone some revival at Monaco, featuring in three of the last four matches, scoring his first league goal in the process. Surely, that is a statement of intent that should be taken seriously.
Nothing gladdens the heart of a coach more than seeing one of his regulars respond positively when axed from the team due to loss of form.
Stephen Keshi has his work cut out for him as far as decision-making is concerned—it’s part of the job.
So, over to you Big Boss!
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