It is a new season in the world of soccer and there is a general feeling that the game was not missed even as we saw a lot of drama in the summer, including the Euro 2020, Copa America, and the Olympics.
Leicester City had a Sunday to remember as they won their first-ever Community Shield title against Manchester City. The hero of that match was none other than our very own Kelechi Iheanacho. Not only did he draw a foul in the area from the Manchester City defender, Nathan Ake, but he also ensured that the penalty counted even as they approached the closing 10 minutes of the tight affair. What made the goal so special? A winning goal against a former team in a title showdown, he definitely proved a point with. The underrated Wilfred Ndidi still maintained his solid performance in the middle of the field.
Just like Fulham last season, the newly promoted Watford side has a total of five Nigerians in the team and three (William Troost-Ekong, Peter Etebo and Emmanuel Dennis) are established members of the Super Eagles team. Etebo is no stranger to the intensity of English football while Emmanuel Dennis and Isaac Success are on a mission to prove a point. Tom Dele Bashiru will also need to get as much game time as possible to feature in the Nigerian National team.
Alex Iwobi is known to be inconsistent right from his time at Arsenal but with Everton having a new manager in the person of Rafa Benitez who trusted him with the Number 10 jersey and a couple of pre-season games, he cannot afford to put a foot wrong.
Away from the Premier League, can Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun replicate their outstanding performances for Rangers this season in the Scottish Premier League? Paul Onuachu and Cyriel Dessers who are on Genk’s books will be looking to defend their Belgian league title. Villareal has placed Samuel Chukwueze on the transfer list and the speedy winger will be looking to change clubs given that Unai Emery is yet to trust him. Pending his switch, he needs to do a lot of convincing to remain relevant to Emery’s side.
Victor Osimhen is the most valued Nigerian right now and with his mixed performance last season, he needs to justify his place both in Napoli and in the national team this coming season. We would also be seeing more of Simy Nwankwo in the Serie A who had twenty league goals last season for the relegated Crotone as he just signed for the newly promoted Salernitana.
As the new season approaches with the excitement and hopes that come with it, this could prove to be a make or break for the players involved.
