Izuchukwu OkosiThe Super Eagles will today (Thursday) will face Lesotho in the first of two games this month in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures.
Jose Peseiro’s team will on Sunday take on Zimbabwe in the second of two games as the three-time African champions hope to qualify for the World Cup after missing the mundial in Qatar 2022.
Prime Business Africa’s Izuchukwu Okosi in this piece presents four players whose invitations for these games are very unpopular with the Nigeria football supporters
1. Joseph Aribo (Southampton, England)
Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo has rarely played club football this season, managing just one start in 11 league appearances for the Saints this campaign in the Championship.
This has infuriated a lot of fans who do not only point to his lack of chances but have a few worries about his style of football.
Yet Eagles handler, Peseiro claims that Aribo finds himself in his plans as he is the only Super Eagles midfielder aside Alex Iwobi who is progressive in his playing style, an excuse that do not really sit well with those who know the player inside out.
Aribo’s true moment of genius came in his debut game for Nigeria – in the draw against Brazil in a friendly game back in 2019.
2. Francis Uzoho (Apoel Nicosia, Cyprus)
Current first choice Super Eagles goalie Francis Uzoho has made some high profile errors in the team that his continued invitation has irked keen observers.
Uzoho’s fractured relationship with the Nigeria fans began on 29 March 2022 when the Eagles could only draw 1-1 against the Black Stars of Ghana as the team failed to qualify for the tournament in Qatar.
Uzoho was atrocious in the recent friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique and that has not done his invitations any good.
In fact the keeper had to take to his social media accounts to remind his critics that it was not an easy feat to go to Europe and be able to gain the trust of “the white man.”
3. Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
Albeit he has pulled out of the games this month,, many Nigerian fans wondered why Okoye got the nod of the head coach in the first place.
Okoye was one of the players to blame for the round of 16 defeat to Tunisia in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon but many have refused to also blame the defenders in front of him for losing the ball that ultimately led to the concession of the goal.
Okoye was invited but not used in the friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal.
It is unclear if that had an impact on his decision to withdraw from the games or whether he is injured or perhaps he is indeed injured.
Prime Business Africa’s opinion on the subject of Okoye’s gaffe is that he should get more opportunities perhaps his last chance saloon to make a statement in the team.
Every player at some point in their careers make mistakes that could cost their teams. Okoye might come good if he regains his confidence.
It is criminal to threaten a player’s life as Okoye has experienced because of mistake he supposedly made in a game.
4. Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad)
Sadiq Umar has rarely played La Liga games for Real Sociedad since he signed for the club.
Umar made a return to full fitness a few months back after close to a year put due to injury. He has started in three games out of 11 for his club this term and is yet to score for the club thus far.
Last season, he managed to play just two games before his season was cut short by a cruciate knee ligament damage.
Sadiq Umar’s style of football has continued to frustrate those who do not like to see his languid, laid back style of game.
Umar has missed numerous goal-scoring chances while playing for the Nigerian national team.
He also doesn’t also seem to show burning desire to play regularly for the team when he recently stated it does not matter who starts in attack.
That sounds like a line of a team player undoubtedly but conversely, it could have also sounded nice if he had said that he is keen to become a starter for the team.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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