Igoh Ogbu: Rear Admiral Worth The Wait

By IKENWA NNABUOGOR

The fast diminishing quality in the central rear in the national team in this horizons, appears so glaring that in future quality may well be on the run and hurting in terms of results, may well be the answer.

The Super Eagles’ central defence only managed to breathe a fresh life when captain William Troost-Ekong returned with bags of grit, steel, confidence and assurances that had eluded the embattled team.

Troost-Ekong destroyed the Oyibo Wall himself to build a brand new fortress with another diaspora player, Semi Ajayi, to command the defence line that reminds fans of what it used to come close to when late Stephen Keshi, late Uche Okafor, Chidi Nwanu, Taribo West and Joseph Yobo kept it as tight as ever.

Troost-Ekong is getting on a bit, on the flip side of 30 and could be slowing down any time soon signalling the handlers that an understudy and a possible successor should be brought close to the team.

The most fitting for this is none other than the exciting home ground talent Igoh Ogbu proving week in, week out in Czech Republic, in the colours of Slavia Prague, that his days at Super Eagles are nigh.

The former youth international has grown to become one of the sought after central defenders in the Czech Super League for his outstanding performances in the domestic league and in Europe.

Ogbu has flown a fantastic flight since he arrived Europe after playing in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland in 2019 and he’s still brilliantly flying for his club.

Norway became a new home after the World Cup and has done well to help himself, attracting all the recognitions in the local scene and also in Europe. It’s a matter of time before a bigger club would prise him away.

So consistent has the 24-year centre back been that Slavia Prague will always miss him when he’s unavailable for selection.

Ogbu has locked down his centre back shirt at Slavia and an Eagles extension would be a great long term plan.

Standing at princely 1.87m tall and weighing 83kg, Eagles are sure to store a tank that will water the field for far too long in future.

After all, a stitch in time, they say, saves nine.