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| Oduamadi |
Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is not a
man to let star status guide his selection policy. Luminaries such as
Osaze Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins and Taye Taiwo have all been out of
the side for some time now, while injuries to Victor Moses and Emmanuel
Emenike have only swelled the number of notable absentees in the Super
Eagles’ squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.
Yet while the Nigeria line-up may be
short on stardust, that does not mean to say it is lacking in talent, as
recent results have shown. Victorious at the Africa Cup of Nations in
February, the Eagles are also well on the way to the third and final
round of the African Zone qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Three times on the score-sheet against
Tahiti Nnamdi Oduamadi is the epitome of a Nigeria team that is
bursting with ability and anxious to make a name for itself on the
international stage.
Odu, to give him his nickname, knows a
little bit about global exposure already, having made the move from
Lagos to AC Milan back in 2008. Competition for places and some untimely
injuries checked his progress, however, his first-team experience with
Milan being restricted to a short cameo appearance in a 2010 league
match against Catania. Loaned out to Serie B sides Torino and Varese
last year, the 22-year-old is still waiting to make an impact in Italy.
“I’ve suffered a lot of injuries in the last few years,” he told FIFA.com. “That’s why I missed the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, which my teammates won in such spectacular style.
“I’ve been given the chance to show what
I can do in the national team now though, and I don’t want to waste it.
I’m very happy with the first steps I have taken in the competition,
and I’m going to give my all to help my team go as far as possible. I’m
back.”
Oduamadi made his Nigeria comeback a few
months ago, and it was his goal that secured a vital point for the
Super Eagles in a Brazil 2014 qualifier against Kenya in Calabar on
March 23, a strike that has helped them take control of Group F.
Usually reluctant to pay compliments,
Keshi was effusive in his praise of the youngster at the time, “
Oduamadi is an integral part of my plans. He’s a very intelligent,
impish player and I think very highly of him.”
During his 90 minutes on the pitch
against Tahiti, Oduamadi showed why Keshi is right to rate him. A
constant menace on the right flank, he capped his incisive performance
with a hat-trick.
“I’m very pleased with the match I
played,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve scored three for the
national team and I want to savour the moment.”
In discussing the dance moves that
followed his goals, the smiling played said, “I love music and if you
like music, then you like to dance too. You’ll see me dancing every time
I score.”
Having played in Italy’s second tier,
the young Nigerian knows as well as anyone that talent will always show
through at any level. Hence the respect he and his teammates had for
underdogs Tahiti, “We didn’t underestimate them. They might be amateurs,
but they’re still Oceania champions. I think we fulfilled that part of
the contract and the team did a good job.”
Still harbouring hopes of a successful
return to Milan, Oduamadi has already taken some important steps on the
road to becoming a star, confirmation of which could come in Nigeria’s
next engagements in the days ahead.
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