Etebo’s exploit at U-23 AFCON good for CHAN 2016 call-up

WARRI Wolves forward Oghenekaro Etebo must have alerted Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh after he shone at the U-23 AFCON in Senegal to prove he deserves to be considered for next year’s CHAN in Rwanda.

Etebo was not one of 26 players named by Eagles coach Oliseh, who began training camp in Abuja yesterday for the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda.

Nigeria won the U-23 AFCON with Etebo emerging as the top scorer of the tournament with five goals including the decisive strikes in both the semi-final and final.

His winning goal in a 2-1 win over Algeria in the U-23 AFCON final oozed pure class as he took off on a solo run into the heart of the opponents’ defence before he coolly slotted home past the onrushing goalkeeper.

In the semi-final against hosts and favourites Senegal, he led the team to victory in the absence of three other key figures in the team, namely captain Azubuike Okechukwu, Taiwo Awoniyi and Stanley Dimgba.

He and Usman Mohammed were specially chosen by coach Samson Siasia, when there was a clash of engagements between the U-23s and Eagles earlier this year with Chima Akas and Kingsley Sokari released to the home Eagles.

Etebo is a skillful forward armed with a great dribble with the vision to create chances for others to score goals.

The striker is fast, packs a decent shot and as he proved in Senegal, he is a very cool customer from the penalty spot.

He is also good at set pieces – flashback to his audacious goal attempt from more than 40 yards against Algeria in a group game in Senegal – and as long as he is not bogged down by a knee injury, which has set back his career, he is a very consistent performer.

After scoring 16 of goals in his rookie season in the Nigeria league in 2013/14, he scored five goals in the just concluded season NPFL for league runners-up Warri Wolves.

Etebo was dropped at the last minute from the final squad to the CHAN last year and has already been capped at full international level by Nigeria.

•Culled from MTNfootball.com