Opinion : Why Akpom would add more value to the Super Eagles than Balogun

Middlesbrough talisman Chuba Akpom and Reims striker Folarin Balogun are being touted for a place in the Super Eagles due to the fantastic season both are having for their club sides.

Both are provisionally cap-tied to England after playing competitive matches for the youth teams but remain eligible to play for the Super Eagles. 

Akpom has scored 21 goals in 28 appearances for Middlesbrough in the Championship this season while Balogun has scored 15 goals in 25 appearances for Reims in Ligue 1.

While there is a possibility that both can be called up by Super Eagles coach Jose Paseiro, it is Akpom who I feel should be called if Paseiro is to choose one of them. Here's why.

While there is no doubt that both are prolific in front of goal, it is the versatility of Akpom that makes him a more appealing option than Balogun at the moment.

The Middlesbrough forward has featured as an attacking midfielder and a striker for Boro this season and he has done well while playing both positions.

Akpom has featured as an attacking midfielder 14 times, scoring 14 goals, while he has played as a central forward 12 times scoring 7 goals and notching 1 assist in the championship this season. This shows his efficient versatility.

In contrast, Balogun has featured as a central forward in all 25 games for Reims in Ligue 1 this season.

Though it must be said that he has played as a left winger and right winger while playing for the Arsenal youth team, it remains to be seen how well he can play in those positions at the senior level.

With Akpom being able to play as an attacking midfielder, he adds more value to the Super Eagles than his fellow Arsenal academy graduate.

He makes it easy for Jose Paseiro to change the shape of the team without having to sacrifice the quality of Victor Osimhen or Terrem Moffi.

This also makes more sense when you consider the fact that few players in the current Super Eagles set-up can play as attacking midfielders efficiently.

More so, the presence of Victor Osimhen and Terrem Moffi, both of whom have been tested and trusted as Super Eagles strikers, makes it less likely for either Akpom or Balogun to feature as a striker.

This is not to say that Balogun and Akpom cannot be called to the Super Eagles at the same time, the point is that Akpom would be of better use to the Super Eagles than Balogun at the moment due to his versatility.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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