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Soccer News of Tuesday, 6 April 2021

Source: www.completesports.com

Super Eagles: Iwuala, another star in the making

Anayo Emmanuel Iwuala Anayo Emmanuel Iwuala

Representing the senior national team is a rare opportunity that every football player always craves for in life regardless of where they play their football in the world.

This rare moment could either make or mar a player’s life if not well utilized because there are a thousand and one players waiting in the wings to grab such opportunity if extended to them.

However, Enyimba winger, Anayo Emmanuel Iwuala showed why such a chance must not be wasted after he was invited by Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr as a replacement for Sadiq Umar at the just concluded 2021 Africa cup of Nations qualifiers.

Iwuala dazzled and showed a glimpse of skills in the few minutes that he played for the Super Eagles against the Squirrels of Benin in Porto-Novo and the Crocodile of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

His lightning speed and aggressive display could have been well appreciated if he had set up his teammate in the 18-yard box rather than going for glory to cap his debut appearance. Yet to be a finished product, Iwuala’s performance is a testament to the array of talents in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) that are yet to be unearthed.

He’s a player that can be worked on by Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr in order to reach the level expected by him. He may not be as experienced as the foreign-based players, however, there is always room for improvement.

With the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers over and the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled to begin in May, Iwuala could become Rohr’s joker if only he could help him achieve his best. The Enyimba star can be injected into the team gradually during international friendly matches where some of his raw talents could be dusted by Rohr.

Recall that he was also brilliant in Enyimba’s victory over Entente Setif in the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday. A brilliant dribble and perfect pass by Iwuala allowed Tosin Omoyele to score and earn Enyimba’s victory.

Without a doubt, Iwuala may offer Rohr a better option not as a training material but as a utility player that will add more value to the Super Eagles.