AFCONQ: Why Champions League star needs competition for starting place in Super Eagles

The left back is an important role in the defensive formation of football teams. 

All roles on the pitch are important but the left back position is one that entails that the player has to make a lot of runs to defend and also support the attack - sometimes it is argued that left backs are more attacking minded than the right backs. 

In the Super Eagles, there is seemingly a dearth of quality left backs unlike some two decades ago when they had competitions in the form of Ben Iroha and Celestine Babayaro, and later down the years, Ifeanyi Udeze, Juwon Oshanuwa etc. 

These days, there is hardly competition for that role as only one player seems to be pulling his weight in that position - Zaidu Sanusi. 

The Porto defender has become a key player for his club, both in the Portuguese league and in the UEFA Champions League. 

Jamilu Collins left the German Bundesliga 2 for Cardiff City but an injury-induced absence has meant that Collins is gradually becoming a yesterday's man for the Super Eagles. 

The Nigeria Premier League has been alternative source for the selection of players in defensive positions to prosecute international matches for the Super Eagles. 

Rivers United’s Ebube Duru is one player tipped for big things in the game and he has given his best so far in some of the friendlies that the Eagles played in 2022.  

Perhaps it is time for the Super Eagles technical team to scout for new names and faces that will make the position stronger.

Sanusi has played 25 matches in all competitions for the Portuguese giants this 2022/2023 season (15 games in the league, seven in the Champions League and 3 in cup competitions).

Conversely, Collins who was his deputy in the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon has played on only four Championship games for Cardiff City since his arrival in the UK. 

There must be conscious efforts to ensure that the Nigerian senior national team can boast of good attacking players as well as solid defensive ones. 

With the second half of the abridged Nigeria Premier League set to kick off after the gubernatorial and state elections, coach Peseiro would need to know those players that could bring back the glorious Nigerian experience. 

 Izuchukwu Michael

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