By Desmond EKWUEME
Paul Ebere Onuachu is one of the most undervalued Super Eagles player in recent times. From the era of Gernot Rohr to Jose Peseiro, this leggy forward get cold treatment from gaffer to gaffer handling the national team
But surprisingly he is loved by his managers at club level. A couple of seasons ago, he ruled Belgium league banging in 36 goals for his club, Genk, to emerge top scorer and most valuable player. He even won the Ebony Award for black foreign players.
With these achievements, he was still treated like a second class player in Super Eagles. Rohr would always use him as a late substitute, who is good enough for between 10 and 15 minutes towards the end of the game he is fielded to play.
Critics say Belgium league was the reason he was tested shabbily. He moved to the EPL where he joined Southampton. Yet this derogatory treatment continued and sadly Soton were relegated and Onuachu had few games.
He move to Trabzonspor in Turkey, and he is doing well yet when the list of 40 players by Peseiro was to be pruned down, Onuachu was affected. His fans asked, WHO DID ONUACHU OFFEND?
Now, Umar Sadiq has sustained a knee injury, which probably may rule him out of AFCON. I dare ask: “If it is ascertained that Sadiq is out of the tournament, can Onuachu be drafted in”?
Something tells me, this chap could be the joker of this team in Cote d’Ivoire. He could just be the rejected stone who will be the pillar of the corner. He could just be the anointed one to bear the cross of the team when push comes to shove.
NFF and Peseiro please bring this lad into the team if Sadiq is out. As for Sadiq, I wish you a speedy recovery.