An Expert's Take On Exclusion Of Awoniyi From Super Eagles AFCONQ Roster

Nigerian Football expert and ESPN journalist Colin Udoh has refused to criticize Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr after he omitted the Liverpool loanee from the latest Nigeria roster announced on Monday, March 4.

With 6 goals in his last seven appearances in the Belgian First Division A, Awoniyi is undoubtedly Nigeria's most in-form striker in Europe at the moment and many Super Eagles fans wanted him invited to the national team.

Udoh has explained why he feels FC Midtjylland's Paul Onuachu is ahead of Awoniyi in Rohr's pecking order of strikers.

'At first look, it will be like what's going on here? We have all been talking about Taiwo Awoniyi and how great he has been with Royal Excel Mouscron,'' Colin Udoh said on his YouTube channel.

''He has scored 6 goals in seven appearances. This season, he has tallied nine goals across all competitions.

''Here is the thing, Onuachu has scored more and played more games. He has scored 14 goals in the league alone.

''I remember a few years ago when Onuachu's team played against Manchester United, at the time he was hot but he didn't light up the game against Manchester United.''

He continued : ''He's a big, gangling striker who can score goals. He fits into the mould of strikers Rohr is looking for if you compare him to someone like Odion Ighalo, Isaac Success and Victor Osimhen.

''You get the idea of where Rohr is going with this, a big man to lead the line and two runners flanking him on either side plus a creative player right behind them.''

Taiwo Awoniyi has represented Nigeria at the FIFA U17 and U20 World Cups and was named to the provisional roster for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Igho Kingsley