On the surface of it, Nigeria seems to have an abundance of attacking talent available to national team selectors. While that may be true, when subjected to serious analysis on the issue of quality and long term viability, many players would easily drop by the way...In addition, when differentiated in terms of 'top strikers' and support strikers or wide forwards, the picture changes
Take the case of Obafemi Martins. Since his blockbuster start to his career at Newcastle FC, a combination of injuries and loss of form have combined to stunt his career to the point where he has not only stagnated, but his career is currently in limbo. Different but equally poignant examples can also be made for Yakubu, Peter Utaka or Eneramo.
The challenge to the coaching crew thus lies in determining who best to invest time and effort in, both in meeting the immediate (ANC 2012) as well as the long term (Brazil 2014) needs of the team.
For the purpose of this analysis, our emphasis is on 'top strikers', which means that the likes of Peter Odenwigie, Obasi or Ike Uche are excluded.
In my considered opinion, the three top strikers to watch who meet both our immediate and longer term needs are Emmanuel Emenike (Fernebace), Ideye Brown (Kiev) and Anthony Ujah (Mainz). Each player has transferred to a new club meaning each one will face a new set of challenges in the 2011/12 season.
For Ideye Brown, this will be his third club in three straight seasons, having moved first from Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax. to French club FC Sochaux. In all three clubs his role has remained largely that of a top striker, with the penalty area as the main focus of his movement and game. For the most part, he is not a striker who arrives in the box, but one who recieves the ball in the penalty area and creates space to recieve the ball. Primarily left footed, of the three strikers, he is clearly the best in the air, with a great vertical leap, even from a static position, and is adept at finding space at the far post, much like the ex-Stationery Stores great, Wakilu Oyenuga (www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6TrDSCCzRM)
The major addition to his game today at Dynamo Kyiv is that he is made to attack a lot wider from the left than at Sochaux, which in turn has allowed him to cut in diagonally and shoot with the right foot which is equally strong as the left. While he has begun his career at Kiev in tremendous form, we must be careful to balance our assessment of him with the reality that the Ukranian league affords him a lot more space on the ball than he had in France. I suspect that we will learn a lot more about his development in his games in Europe than in Ukraine.
Emmanuel Emenike will begin his third season in the Turkish Liga in Fenerbahçe which represents the summit of Turkish domestic football (along with Galatasaray). Primarily right footed, he has greater acceleration than Brown and is at his best when attacking the diagonal ball in space, especially from wide right or the inside right channel (http://rutube.ru/tracks/3844792.html?v=d9b7f0e3516beb24fa624088540cd1df).
He has greater pace, power and balance with the ball at his feet than any of the others, and is better on the dribble. Most of his goals are scored by out-pacing the defender in open play, attacking the gap between the center backs and the dribble run. Relatively few of his goals come from headers as compared to Brown.
The new season will represent a much greater challenge than he has faced thus far, as the pressures of playing in Fener are very high, in addition to which he has the challenge of the UEFA champions league. Internally, he will have to compete with Mamadou Niang and Semih Sentuk both of whom finished last season with goals in double figures.
The 2011/12 season will be Anthony Ujah's second full season in Europe, after a blockbuster start with Lillestrøm in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, on the basis of which he has recently transferred to FSV Mainz 05. According to the club’s head coach Thomas Tuchel Anthony Ujah is "a young player with great development potential..especially his tremendous jumping power and speed as well as his superior rate. He has "brilliant control over the ball in the penalty area and is a natural goal scorer ” he stated.
Although his experience in Europe has been in the modest Norwegian league, the variety of his goals and the quality of his movement are evidence of a superior talent (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHks0IxKfBY). He is able to play as a top striker or in support, can play as a lone forward with back to goal, or in a partnership; is a scorer as well as provider, and can play off the shoulder of the center back or as a wide forward.
In my opinion, Anthony Ujah represents Nigeria's best long term prospect, if he continues on his current growth curve. While allowing him ample time to adjust to a new club and league, it is important that his integration into the Super Eagles be prioritized (over Ekigho Ehiosun), especially through the U-23 team.
Conversely, Ideye Brown and Emmanuel Emenike possess qualities to form a great partnership attack in a 4-4-2 formation that allows the Eagles handlers to field a quartet of 'real' midfielders rather than forwards in midfield positions. This will enable the team greater balance, especially when playing on the road.
