Goal Nigeria present another debate between two of our writers; one
advocating the cause of Peter Odemwingie, the other, Ahmed Musa.
Following his brace against West Ham
United over the weekend, calls for Peter Odemwingie to return to the
national side will increase like never before. The veteran’s excellent
form threatens to bring another divisive issue before Stephen Keshi
ahead of the World Cup.
In this feature, two of Goal Nigeria’s
finest debate whether a return for the former West Bromwich Albion
forward would represent a wise move for the Big Boss.
| Odemwingie Represents Regression |
As soon as Peter Osaze Odemwingie dispatched his brace at the weekend against West Ham, we all knew what was coming next.
Many strikers have been known to have an
impeccable sense of timing. On this evidence, you cannot
say Odemwingie is left out. His goals came on the back of a week which
had seen the legendary Jay-Jay Okocha add his voice to the growing lobby
of ex-players who seem to assume their opinion on the composition of
the Super Eagles’ World Cup squad is needful. It was an emphatic
statement.
Already, the pro-Odemwingie camp have
installed him as a shoo-in for the right-sided attacking position, ahead
of erstwhile occupant Ahmed Musa. This is rather short-sighted and
reactionary. While there is merit, and it is clear to see
that Odemwingie is in reasonably good form, let us not forget under what
circumstances he left the national team setup almost two years ago.
A victim of Keshi’s cull of disgruntled
elements and megalomaniacs in 2012, his ‘sour grapes’ comments after the
Super Eagles’ victory at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 were
petulant and immature. There is some indication that he and the Big Boss
have indeed mended fences, but does that then mean that he is to be
handed the key to the city?
Talking pure
stats, Odemwingie’s goals-to-game ratio this season is 0.208, only
slightly behind Musa’s 0.212, but significantly the CSKA Moscow man has
chalked up four times as many assists in only nine more appearances.
Then again, Stephen Keshi has made it a
point to emphasise that he is building for the future. The inclusion
of Odemwingie would totally go against the ethos of hunger, vigour and
freshness that Keshi has made a point of espousing since he took over
the team’s affairs. Ahmed Musa’s game has its flaws, but he puts it all
on the line when he wears the shirt. Frankly, none of his kinks will be
ironed out by asking him to take a backseat to a returning ‘prodigal
son’.
Many speak glowingly of experience, and
while Odemwingie has clearly accumulated more appearances for the Super
Eagles over a long career, it is worth asking: is experience an end or a
means?
There is far more to experience than
age. Experience is knowing, over the course of many games, what to do at
the right time. It is the ability to make decisions in a split second
without compromising the team.
At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,
Nigeria lost its first game against Argentina by a lone goal. The best
opening for the Super Eagles fell to Odemwingie, who simply had to play a
square pass to Obafemi Martins who was wide open. Instead, he could not
make up his mind to pass or shoot, and ended up running the ball out of
play.
Odemwingie has been a great servant, and
in light of his recent performances, should be considered for
invitation. However, his place should not be a given.
Follow Solace Chukwu on 
| The Sharpened Axe |
The level of proficiency shown by
strikers in front of goal is, without doubt, of great importance to
national team coaches ahead of the World Cup in Brazil. After all, to
progress in the competition, you have to win matches, and to win
matches, you have to score goals—more goals than your opponents. So, no
right-thinking coach, with lofty ambitions, such as Nigeria’s, will take
a player who won’t add value—even from the bench—to his team.
Osaze’s brace at the weekend has not
only expounded the ongoing national debate, which
includes the Ike Uche saga and the search for the midfield ‘Third
Man’, but unearthed pertinent questions.
One of such questions is: Is Ahmed Musa more efficient than Osaze Odemwingie?
This one shouldn’t take sleep away from our eyes because, really, it shouldn’t—it is clear for all to see.
As we all know and appreciate their
strengths, one way to determine the fullness or emptiness of this
glass (their efficiency) is to ask whose weaknesses are most tolerable?
A Legacy Tarnished
Osaze’s ill-advised jibe at Keshi in
2012, which he has apologised for, certainly leaves a bitter taste but
the opportunities the World Cup present are more than enough
to motivate and put him in the right frame of mind to prove his critics
wrong and repair his battered legacy.
Verdict: He can be compulsive at times (perhaps his most poignant weakness) but we can live with that.
Age
The forward is 32 years old but with
such instinctive strike from the edge of the box and a superb all-round
performance at the weekend, who cares if he is 60?
Verdict: He’s a senior player but we can live with it.
A Feeble Alternative
Ahmed Musa’s unending compilation
and ever-so-fresh catalogue of missed chances does his case no good. If
he were a defender, it would have been a different story all together.
We cannot afford to put our faith in such impotent and immature
character, if our ambitions to reach the semi-finals in Brazil are
anything to go by.
Verdict: Musa is not sure enough in front of goal; this is unacceptable.
The Argument of Experience
Solace is absolutely right to say:
“there is more to experience than age”, and it is the lack of it,
thereof, that further nails Musa behind the evergreen Osaze. It is such
inexperience that made him flounder against lowly Tahiti in the
Confederations Cup, and the very same when he childishly lost possession
to Luis Suarez in midfield that led to Diego Forlan’s winning goal.
Verdict: His shoddiness would cost us; we cannot live with that.
The facts to prove Osaze’s
worthiness, not just to reclaim his position in the Super Eagles team,
but to replace Ahmed Musa in the starting eleven, are embarrassingly
overwhelming.
Putting Musa over Osaze is like a
farmer going to work with a blunt axe...he’d certainly live to recount
and regret his decision, even in old age.
Osaze means God chooses…Keshi will be wise not to reject!
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