The gradual rise of Crystal Palace winger, Eberechi Eze in the Premier League is no doubt a welcome development for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ahead of the Super Eagles’ resumption of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this year.
Eze is currently the subject of war between England and Nigeria. The 22-year-old currently represents the Three Lions at the U-21 level, but he is also eligible to play for the three-time African champions.
Eze, whose recent eye-catching performances in the colors of Crystal Palace has been applauded by the English press, may still be convinced by the NFF to represent the senior national team.
Eze first trained with the Nigeria squad in March 2017, when they visited London for friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso at The Hive Stadium, home of Barnet FC and the London Bees. However, the latter fixture was canceled.
Interestingly, the Three Lions of England are yet to recognize the quality talent of Eze regardless of the fact that he has represented the team at the youth level. With lots of talents at their disposal, Eze may be way behind the pecking order compared to if he decides to play for the Super Eagles.
The youngster attracted attention from across the Premier League, having been one of only nine outfielders to start every single Championship game in 2019/20 before his move to Crystal Palace. A total of 14 assists and eight goals from his 46 appearances in Queens Park Rangers’ midfield made it inevitable he would do so.
He creates more through his dribbling than his passing and is able to kill the ball dead with one touch and to work his way out of crowded areas.
He has a brilliant vision and an awareness of his surroundings, which allows him – even without particularly outstanding passing ability – to pick out passes many others would not be able to.
Eze also poses a huge threat from dead balls. He is exceptionally composed at penalties, opting for the goalkeeper-dependent method used by the likes of Eden Hazard, where the taker watches and waits for his opponent to move before slotting the ball into the opposite corner.
There is no doubt that Eze’s addition to the Super Eagles squad will further strengthen the team ahead of the team’s crucial clash against the Squirrels of Benin in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on March 22, 2021.
By Augustine Akhilomen
12 Comments
We don’t need him. We have ejaria already.
How can you compare ejaria with Eze, this guy has got vision. freekick specialist, penalty king, he also help in defence.
Thus guy will unlock tight defence and will play well with intelligent strikers even a striker like onuachu will benefit from his lovely passes to poach on.
The guy is not interested in playing for the super eagles…..you want make we dey beg players what will that say to other foreign born players…..abegi naija football won’t collapse without him…..
@Ade you are very right but because he refused to play for us Nigerians will say he is not good enough yet we know say e dey pain us. We need to address the issues that will make us great and not loose talent or even produce more talent back home with good sporting infrastructures in place, instead of this fake testimonial we are making against this foreign borns just because they ditch us to avoid poor management.
This lad has made it clear it’s three lion all the way Eze changing allegiance had been the subject of contentious debate in this forum and the media for sometime now.
Though I doubt he will change his stance but if he does that would be the most exciting switch we have had in recent times because he’s obviously one of the most sought after Nigerian foreign player.
Eze is not better than Ejaria . I have watched both and Ejaria will be a better alternative to iwobi in the middle of the park.
CSN pls u pple should stop dragging our dear country & our honourable SE into this your world best Eberech Messi Eze issue biko.
The young man has made his choice & we must “RESPECT” it, ASAP.
He even prefer sitting on ENGLAND U21 bench to honouring SE invitation.
Then why still playing this card?
Will he come and win WORLD CUP for us?
Will he come and do more than what our RESPECTED legends(OKOCHA, KANU, AMUNIKE, OLISEH et all) has done?
Can’t u pple see the writing on the wall?
How much has his agent paid u pple to keep bringing up this PATHETIC, BORING & DRY issue on this respected sport site?
We are not yet done with that of ABRAHAM and u pple want to bring another shame to a whole country again.
Pls help us and safe our faces from this shame….
The wingers we have on ground is even too much…..
MUSA
CHUKWUEZE
KALU
HENRY
MADUEKE
SIMON
ADEMOLA
EJUKE
DENNIS etc..
What’s the cry for EZE all about?
Let EBERECH MESSI EZE go with his 3 LIONS of England & allow us have peace bikonu.
Eze is a very good player, it would be wonderful if he choses to play for Nigeria. He has so much talent that can be used in the Super Eagles. But alas, I fear his mind is made up about representing England. If he does choose England, I wish him good luck (because he is going to need it). I dont see him benching players like mason mount, jack grealish and james maddison in the English national team who all play in the same position he plays.
Surely I will say emphatically that Eze is not better than Ejaria. However this depends on the parameters you are looking at.
1. Let’s clear the role first, Ovie is naturally a box to box central midfielder while Eze is an attacking midfielder that can also play in the wings
2. Ovie is a World Champion for England U20 2017 whereas Eze was mostly a fringe player at England U20 and U21. Eze debuted for U20 at age 20yrs 3 months, for U21 at age 21 yrs 4 months and currently still sitting on the bench for U21 at age 22yrs 7 months.
3. Ovie is a direct, effective and more purposeful midfielder with a Champion mentality whereas Eze is more of an entertainer and often plays to gallery.
4. Ovie feels more Nigerian as he trained with Nigeria World conquering U17 team of 2013 but narrowly missed out of final list due to logistic reasons while Eze feels he’s too BIG for Nigeria
5. Ovie is stronger on the ball and can easily withstand the ruggedity of vicious African players while Eze appears too soft for the African Terrain
On top of all of these, Ovie’s patriotism and Champion mentality will be more effective and productive for the SE leading to greater and better results for Nigeria.
I do hope CSN will stop feeding us with worthless and boring news of Eze for now until he acknowledges Nigeria as his own and willing to play for SE. I actually believe that CSN Editors have been blessed with regular Eze’s Pounds notes for them to continue hyping him while he waits on Southgate’s call up for the 3 Lions and keeping SE as option B
Dr Banks how are you doing? What field do you specialize in? I am a plastic surgeon from North Carolina.
Sentiments apart..
I saw ejiara’s clips and I was stunned by the level of potential this guy has.
His hold up play is top notch, dribbling skills is second to none,he has pace, can change the tempo of games..
Sincerely, I would prefer ejiara to iwobi or eberechi eze.
This selection
Aina
Sanuzi
Ekong
Balogun
Ndidi
Aribo/Etebo
Ejiara
Lookman
Oshimen
Dennis/Sodiq
Why this selection?
Aina and sanuzi has good physical physique, very good offensively and defensively.
Ekong and Balogun partnership has been consistent.
Ndidi’s defensive and opponent’s game disruption is second to none, Etebo is strong and can love to do the outside shot stuff,
Aribo is good defensively and offensively (2 in 1) playing the free role
Ejiara will play 10, dribbles well, holds and shields the ball too good.
Sadiq will play a supporting striker, just like the partnership of emenike and brown ideye.
Then oshimen does the magic off front.
Our bench is full of hands to pick from.
Even if he(eze) decides to play for the Eagles, he already lost a place in so many heart.
Me i am not jealouse of eze, we have alot eze in our team, ademola lookman, onyekuru, kalu, ejuke this are good players already competing for left wing position, iwobi,aribo,ejiara,maduike, are also enough option for number 10, i know it would definately be a plus to the eagles if eze or saka had switch to represent us, in the other way it could also become a biger headache for the coach to make proper choices.
Lookman makes me careless about eze.
Aribo makes me careless about michael oliseh.
Maduike makes me careless about saka.
Sadiq/osimen makes me careless about abraham.
I am not jealouse at all, naija is a talent production industry.