AFCON 2019: No excuse for Eagles against South Africa After missing successive African

With Adebayo Olodan

Nations Cup in 2015 and 2017, the Super Eagles are within touching distance of qualifying for the 2019 edition of the competition in Cameroon.

With the Eagles sitting atop our group with nine points from a possible 12, all that is left for the team to do is to secure a win against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Though the Super Eagles will be missing some first team players through injuries and suspension, the South Africans have their worries too in terms of players that have been sidelined.

Among the players that will be missing for the Eagles through injuries are; first choice keeper, Francis Uzoho, Henry Onyekuru, captain John Obi Mikel, Jamilu Collins and the suspended  Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi.

One absence that will be most felt by the team is the Leicester midfielder, Ndidi, who is in the form of his life and has made the defensive midfield position his won in the Eagles.

In the absence of the former school boy international, Nigeria looks light in the midfield as Oghenekaro Etebo and Ogenyi Onazi have of late struggled to justify their inclusion in the team, especially in the long absence of John Obi Mikel.

However, this particular match may present the most underrated midfielder in the team, John Ogu, the opportunity to win the trust of Coach Gernot Rohr. Aside being a good marker, Ogu, who has a huge physique, also packs shot in his left foot.

For Uzoho, his absence is not likely to create any vacuum in the team with Ikenwa Ezenwa a more than capable replacement. Before now, many football aficionados in the country have expressed their worries over the below par performances of the Elche young keeper but Rohr have consistently waved aside those lapses.  But for his four weeks absence after suffering convulsion at the weekend, the first name on the list of the German tactician for the South Africa match would have been Uzoho.

However, it is expected that the newly invited 30-year-old Enyimba keeper, Theophilus Afelokhai and Daniel Akpeyi will provide Ezenwa stiff competition between the sticks.

Another player that may be sorely missed is Paderborn defender, Collins, who has continued to win the hearts of Nigerians with his impressive performances against Libya in both legs. Despite being a new entrant, the Germany based player appeared to have displaced the duo of Brian Idowu and Elderson Echiejile in the left-back position. His injury against MSV Duisburg has left the coach with no other option that to consider reinstating Idowu  into the first team or playing Ola Aina, who is a natural right back in the opposite side of defence. Ever since he secured a loan move from Chelsea to Torino, Aina has showed great promises and it will not be a bad idea should Rohr give him another opportunity.

Despite the missing players, I have been highly impressed with the form shown lately by Isaac Success at Watford and I can only hope he gets more playing time in the November 17 tie against the South Africans to show what he is capable of. Also, after being relegated to the background at Chelsea for many years, Kenneth Omeruo appeared to have turned the corner at Spanish club Leganes. In three consecutive matches, the central defender is no doubt becoming popular in the league. Last weekend, he barely put a foot wrong and he appeared to have worked on his passing of the ball. After playing on loan in less fancied leagues such as the Eredivisie and Turkish Super League, I had thought it will be difficult for Omeruo to adapt to the Spanish league but he has so far proved me wrong.

With Leon Balogun finding playing time difficult at Brighton Hove Albion, I expect Rohr to try out Omeruo as the central defensive partner of William Troost-Ekong against Bafana Bafana.

One thing is sure, the match against South Africa will be  difficult and it is important the Eagles avoid making any mistake at the back.

Aside the eleven players that will be lined up by Stuart Baxter, the Eagles will have to contend with the vociferous crowd in Johannesburg who are likely to throng the stadium with their vuvuzuela.

Like the Eagles, the Bafana Bafana have their own injury worries but that is not to say they will lie for the Nigerian side to come at them.

Ekundayo: Another Nigerian footballer died in action!

This week turned out a mourning one following the passing of 23-year-old striker, Ekundayo Ebenezer Mowoyeka in Turkey on Saturday.

Ekundayo was said to have died in action after suffering heart attack in the 35th minute of a Super Amateur League match between his club, Saraykoyspor and Yesilkoyspor. He was said to have been pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. In his honour, the match was reportedly abandoned.

It is so unfortunate to have lost another young Nigerian while trying to eke a living for himself and his family in the country. I pray that Allah grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.