Pulse Opinion: It’s Onyekuru’s time to become the next Super Eagles star

While his profile soared in Europe, Onyekuru never felt at home with the Super Eagles, but this is time to become the new star.

Henry Onyekuru’s breakthrough season came with KAS Eupen in the 2016/2017 season where he caught the eye with his raw talent.

Playing often times from the left side of attack, Onyekuru was electric for Eupen, shredding defences in Belgium week in, week out.

A new Nigerian star was born.

The young forward finished that season as the joint-leading scorer in the Belgian First Division A with 22 goals in 38 games.

His impressive showing for Eupen earned him a move to Everton but he hit a snag after a loan move to Anderlecht no thanks to an injury that ruled him for the most part of last season.

That injury meant that he missed the 2018 World Cup.

 

But even before his injury, Onyekuru never looked settled with the Super Eagles.

He got his first call for the friendly games against Togo and Corsica ahead of a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations against South Africa.

He started the game against Corsica and came off the bench in the friendly tie against Togo but surprisingly, he was left on the bench all through as they Super Eagles failed to trouble South Africa in a home 0-2 loss in an AFCON 2019 qualifier.

It’s was puzzling why Gernot Rohr decided to leave Onyekuru on the bench all through that game while Victor Osimhen who played just two games for his club was introduced in the second half.

He didn’t get another call-up again as Rohr stuck with this trusted players until he was included in the squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria and the friendly game against Argentina in November 2017.

He was only able to get a few minutes of action in Super Eagles 1-1 draw away at Algeria in November 2017 which was his last performance in a Super Eagles shirt before injury struck.

 

Despite trying all he could to recover, he wasn’t able to make the 2018 FIFA World Cup squad.

Even without the injury, only a repeat of his 2016/.2017 season with Eupen would have gotten on the Super Eagles plane to Russia.

But there he has been given another chance with the Super Eagles with the call-up for the AFCON 2019 fixture away at Seychelles.

Having already gotten over his injury problem, Onyekuru has taken to Galatasaray like a duck to water and started with a bang.

He’s looking his 2016/2017 self again and looks primed to come good for the Super Eagles.

Onyekuru’s return to the Super Eagles also comes at a time when there is a great need for him.

Apart from Ahmed Musa’s moments of brilliance in the 2-00 win over Iceland, the Super Eagles were blighted in Russia by a lethargic attack at the 2018 World Cup.

With Victor Moses now retired, Rohr is in search of a new spark and Onyekuru is the obvious choice.