Nigerian midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, who plays for Al-Adalah in Saudi Arabia, is one of the 7 players on NFF’s standby list
By Kehinde Okeowo
Al-Adalah midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has defended his surprise inclusion in the Super Eagles provisional list announced by the Nigerian Football Federation (NNF).
Super Eagles interim coach, Austin Eguavoen, recently released the squad to face the Black Stars of Ghana in a double-legged World Cup playoff later this month and the midfielder, who has not played for Nigeria for over 2 years made the list.
The decision has been criticised by Super Eagles fans and some pundits, former national team coach, Samson Siasia was prominent among those who knocked the decision.
He said, ” For me, it’s not the right decision to bring new players, you are better off with the ones you know already that have been playing together and understand themselves because you have three days to practice before you go to Ghana. So, for me, this is not the right list”
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Reacting to the criticism, Ogenyi Onazi in an interview with Omasports, justified the decision, saying the Super Eagles will need an experienced player like him to scale the Ghana huddle.
The 29-year-old also said where a player plies his trade is not important, as long as he will be making a mark in the team, saying all hands need to be on deck for the encounter.
“It’s not a surprise for me because I’m still playing and I am ready to play anytime and when it comes to the national team, I am always at the service of the nation – to always give my best for the country
” Yes it has been a while since I was in the national team, but when we talk about this every game – home and away that will take us to the World Cup (it is very important).
“When I got a call from the coach, he told me how important it is – and I also know how important it is. We need the experience to be able to tackle this game.
“It’s not a game of saying where do you play or where do you come from or whatever you are doing.
“This is a national issue, not an individual issue. We are not playing a single sport, we need to bring heads together to make the right things at the right time,” he said.
Ogenyi Onazi is one of the players on the standby list, others are Chidozie Awaziem who plays for Alanyaspor FC in Turkey, Jamilu Collins who dons the jersey of SC Paderborn 07 in Germany, and Chidera Ejuke of CSKA Moscow in Russia.
Others are Taiwo Awoniyi of Union Berlin in Germany, Paul Onuachu who plays for KRC Genk in Belgium, and Peter Olayinka of SK Slavia Praha in the Czech Republic.
