5 Super Eagles Stars That Will Shine With Nigeria In Qatar 2022:: All Nigeria Soccer

November 11, 2021November 13, 2021 Stan

Yes, there is still a long route in Africa for teams looking to earn one of the coveted five spots awarded to CAF for the upcoming Qatar 2022 World Cup Tournament, but if there has ever been a given in African football, especially since the mid-’90s is that one of those spots should usually be saved for the Nigerian Super Eagles.

Online sports betting sites, including American based ones that usually focus on the premier NFL picks against the spread, are all in agreeance that Nigeria is one of the best-prepared teams to get one of the playoff passes that will lead them one step closer to qualifying for FIFA’s biggest competition, to be held next year in Qatar.

But why stop at just thinking about Nigeria qualifying for the final knock-out stages of the CAF qualifying route to Qatar 2022, let’s go even further, in an exercise of optimism and trust.

Given that Nigeria has some of Africa’s most polarizing up-and-coming talents amongst its squad, let’s take a look at five players who will shine with Nigeria in the upcoming Qatar 2022 World Cup Tournament.

Maduka Okoye

When you think of outstanding goalkeepers that Nigeria has had, the likes of Sam Ibaim, Peter Fregene, Emmanuel Okala, Peter Rufai, and most recently Vincent Enyeama, but nowadays, the Super Eagles’ goal is safely kept and looked after by new Watford signee Maduka Okoye.

Okoye, who will be joining the British side of Watford in January 2022 away from Sparta Rotterdam, the team with which he’ll remain until the summer of 2022 on a loan deal made between Sparta and Watford.

At the young age of 22, Okoye has managed to start making a very strong case to be taken into account as Nigeria’s answers to all of their goalkeeping conundrums.

His mix of size, speed, security down the goal and having already churned very important experience and playing time in an offensive-driven league such as the Dutch football league, makes him the perfect candidate to be one of Nigeria’s new leaders and shining stars, especially if given the chance to start for the team in Qatar 2022.

Zaidu Sanusi

Just like with Okoye at the goal, another young, up and coming star, this time in the defense is ready to have experts and fans alike fully understand why he has become a pivotal part of Portuguese club Porto’s season.

24-year-old Zaidu Sanusi, who plays as a left-back for the Portuguese powerhouse Porto, has shown throughout his playing skills that he has all the best tools to be the man who leads the Nigerian defense into any game.

His abilities to play when marking one on one situations, as well as his speed, ball interception skills, and even a great aerial scope of the game that makes a dual-threat both on defense and on offense, have all made Sanusi stand out ever since joining Porto.

With his path to greatness still very much out there to be discovered and unleashed, Sanusi could end up becoming one of the best African-born defenders in European football, as well as a pivotal part of Nigeria’s defense.

Joe Aribo

Every team always needs a mastermind midfielder to be able to control the reins of the game, be it defensively, being the first line of stoppage for attackers, or offensively, being the player in charge of distributing the ball upwards and creating chances and spaces.

Those are all traits that Rangers FC and Nigeria’s midfielder Joe Aribo can cover with ease.

While Aribo has had his ups and downs with the Super Eagles, it hasn’t been because of a lack of talent, rather more because he hasn’t been able to play in his preferred position.

If he’s given the chance to let loose while playing where he feels most comfortable, a midfield with him, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi could end up becoming one of the biggest threats that Nigeria could bring to the table for Qatar 2022.

Victor Osimhen

It’s not every day that we’re able to see an African striker make strides as big as the ones that Victor Osimhen has been doing with Napoli this season, in the ultra-defensive Italian Serie A tournament.

But yet, here we are and if there is one thing that all Super Eagles fans should be excited about, it’s the idea of having a striking duo of Victor Osimhen and Paul Onuachu. But for now, let’s focus on Osimhen.

Having already scored 9 goals throughout all competitions for Napoli this season, teams like Chelsea and Real Madrid have started to take an even strong notice of what the Nigerian striker can do, making him one of the biggest commodities in European football right now.

At just 22 years of age and with a price tag of about 70 million pounds, it’s only a matter of time until Osimhen becomes one of the world’s best attackers, something that Nigeria will benefit from in the upcoming World Cup tournament.

Paul Onuachu

What Vincent Osimhen has been for Napoli, Paul Onuachu has been for Belgian squad Genk. Known for his physical prowesses, a staggering height, that combined with some serious speed and a commanding presence in attack, Onuachu has become a synonym of goal scoring in Belgium’s 1A Pro League, also known as the Jupiler League.

It’s because of this that Onuachu has been stacking up more and more top-caliber European teams, such as Atletico de Madrid, Inter Milan, Tottenham, and Arsenal, all waiting for the right time to strike a deal and be able to have one of Africa’s best forwards in their rosters.

Just the thought of an attacking core with Osimhen and Onuachu should be enough to make any opposing team have to rethink their defensive strategies, because between Osimhen’s speed and Onuachu’s physical dominance, who would want to stand in their way?

Ifeanyi Emmanuel