Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Last weekend, beginning from March 22, was a sort of carnival for football in Nigeria as the Super Eagles and the National U-23 team perched on the city of Asaba in Delta State for their AFCON qualifiers.
While the senior national team the Super Eagles concluded their 2019 AFCON qualifiers in style beating minnows Seychelles 3-1, the Olympics Eagles also gave Nigerian fans so much to savour at the same venue as they thumped Libya 4-0 to move to the final round of the 2019 AFCON U-23 qualifiers.
The Super Eagles then rounded up the weekend with an international friendly match with Egypt, the host of the 2019 AFCON. The Gernot Rohr led side defeated the Pharaohs 1-0 to record their second victory in five days.
Although it was a fruitful weekend for Nigerian football in general, two players grabbed the headlines in the ties against the junior Mediterranean Knights of Libya and the Pharaohs of Egypt.
A member of the world conquering 2015 Golden Eaglets, Victor Osimhen who plays on loan for Belgian club Charleroi was the hero in the AFCON U-23 qualifier against Libya just as Paul Onuachu who plays for FC Midtjylland in the Danish league grabbed the headlines in the international friendly with Egypt.
While Osimhen scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 annihilation of Libya, Onuacho on his first start for the Super Eagles scored one of the fastest goals in the history of international football to hand his team victory over the Pharaohs.
For Osimhen, if there were doubts about his abilities to strike for the Super Eagles, he literally silenced such doubting Thomases with his five-star performance against Libya. Onuachu also justified his high rating in the Dannish League and made a bold statement that he can fight for starting shirt in the Super Eagles.
Therefore, by their exhilarating performances of the youngsters are highly favoured to be among the strikers that Rohr would put into consideration for the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
The technical adviser of the team, Gernot Rohr also gave the two players the much needed lift when he said in a post match conference that they had completely justified their invitations and provided cure for headache over goal getters in the team.
So satisfied was the Franco-German tactician that he said his attacking options had increased as he could rely on the two burly strikers to fill the shoes of the other more formidable forward men in the team.
Osimhen and Onuachu will however have to tighten their loins in the fight for shirts in the team as their more illustrious compatriots Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo and Moses Simon are already miles ahead of them.
In addition, there are other young Super Eagles who will be hoping for an opening into the team for the 2019 AFCON. Strikers like Kelechi Iheanacho, Henry Onyekuru, Samuel Kalu, and Samuel Chukwueze are the also eying Egypt 2019.
Trust Sports therefore takes a look at the profiles and chances of the these young Super Eagles strikers on the fringe who would join Osimhen and Onuachu in the fight for shirts in the 2019 AFCON squad.
Kelechi Iheancho- After his exploits at the 2015 FIFA U-17 Championship in UAE and subsequent move to Premiership giants, Manchester City, Iheanacho made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2015 against Swaziland. He would have his first start for the team against Egypt in 2016 in the 2017 AFCON qualifier against Egypt. Although he made the Russia 2018 squad, a dip in form has affected his fortunes at club and national levels. His last match for the Super Eagles was against South Africa in the return leg of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers. It is said his shambolic performance in his last match for the Eagles is largely responsible for his long absence in the national team. Even as he has scored eight goals in 23 appearances for the Super Eagles, Iheanacho is not guaranteed a place in the squad for the 2019 AFCON. He will have to slug it out with more favoured youngsters like Osimhen and Onuachu. Even as the future looks so bleak for him, Iheanacho might be in Egypt because Rohr appears to be in love with his left-foot.
Henry Onyekuru- The Everton of England striker loaned to Galatasaray in the Turkish league took so long to convince most Nigerians that he deserves a place in the Super Eagles. Although he made his debut for Nigeria in a 3-0 international friendly win over Togo in 2017, it is Onyekuru’s performance in Super Eagles final 2019 AFCON qualifying match against Seychelles that has helped to reduce doubts about his ability to play for the senior team. He scored against the Pirates of Seychelles to record his first goal in seven appearances for the Super Eagles. The 21 year old striker will be hoping for more playing time in future international friendly matches to stake a claim for one of the shirts in the attack of the Super Eagles for the 2019 AFCON.
Samuel Kalu- After some dazzling performances for the Super Eagles since his debut in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles in September 2018, the Bordeux wideman has won the hearts of Nigeria’s teeming football fans. Although he has managed only one goal in five appearances, he is highly favoured to tie down a shirt in the attack of the Super Eagles when he rejoins the team. The 20 year old is also tipped to be the next Victor Moses in case the Fernabache man refuses to return to the Super Eagles.
Samuel Chukwueze- The left-footed 2015 FIFA U-17 winner and Villarreal of Spain forward is enjoying a good verve of form and is highly favoured to challenge for a place in the Super Eagles attack. Although he is yet to establish himself in the senior national team, Chukwueze’s potentials are visible. The youngster who is compared with the legendary Arjen Robben of Bayern Munichen made his debut for the senior team on 20 November 2018 as a starter in a 0-0 friendly draw against Uganda. He is yet to score for the Super Eagles but his recent performances for Villarreal have left no one in doubt about his ability to deliver the goods.
Thus, going by the rising profile of these young strikers in their respective clubs in Europe, Super Eagles manager, Rohr will surely be spoilt for choice as he prepares the team for battle in land of the Pharaohs.
One may ask, where is Isaac Success in the scheme of things? The Watford of England man has failed to seize opportunities that have come his way. The member of the 2014 world conquering Golden Eaglets has been in and out of the Super Eagles due to erratic displays and distractions off the field.
At the moment, the Super Eagles manager has not hidden his preference for Odion Ighalo as his point-man. However, most Nigerian football fans are already looking beyond Ighalo to Osimhen, Onuachu, Chukwueze and Kalu who are said to be the emerging forces in Super Eagles attack.
