Why 'Poor Man's Kanu' Was Picked Ahead Of Kayode, Ajayi In Nigeria's Preliminary Squad?

Published: May 16, 2018

Al Ahly SC striker Junior Ajayi, Manchester City loanee Olarenwaju Kayode, Malaga duo Isaac Success and Brown Ideye missed the cut for Nigeria's 30-man provisional World Cup roster, with manager Gernot Rohr opting to hand a maiden call-up to Crotone's Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo.

Dubbed the 'New Nwankwo Kanu, Simy is Nigeria's most in-form striker playing in Europe's top five leagues, having netted six goals in his last seven matches in a league with the meanest defenses in Europe, the Serie A.

''The Serie A is a very tough league, it is a league where teams are built on solid defenses and we have ruthless man-markers,'' Super Eagles Media Officer Toyin Ibitoye explained to Channels Television why the lanky striker was invited.

''He's under the watch of our scouts for a long time not just because of the World Cup, he has scored some good goals, a spectacular overhead kick against Juventus.

''Now he has the opportunity to come to camp and show to the coaches why he should be at the World Cup.''

Simy spent the formative years of his football career at Future Hope Academy Nkpor, G.U.O FC and Imo United before joining the youth team of Portimonense in August 2010.

Igho Kingsley