Oduamadi’ll prove doubters wrong – Dimeji

May 31, 2014

Oduamadi

Dimeji Lawal has backed Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi to prove his doubters wrong at next month’s World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has been heavily criticised in the media for naming the on-loan Varese attacker   in his 30-man provisional squad for Brazil 2014, with some fans and pundits claiming the 23-year-old has not done enough to deserve a place on the roster.

Oduamadi, who has been forced to go on loan four times since he joined Serie A giants AC Milan from Genoa in 2011, scored four   Serie B (Italian second division) goals in 12 appearances for Varese in the just-ended season – and his critics have questioned his striking quality.

But former Super Eagles winger Dimeji claims the criticism of Oduamadi is wide of the mark and urged Keshi to name the Lagos-born, who came in as a second half substitute in the 2-2 draw against Scotland in London on Wednesday, in his final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

“I have not watched Oduamadi play for his club but I watched him closely during the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil and the World Cup qualifiers last year and I don’t think he’s a bad player,” the Saudi ’89 FIFA Under-20 World Cup silver medallist told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.

“Oduamadi is Eagles’ unsung hero. You hardly notice what he’s doing on the pitch but when it matters most he is there.

“He’s just like (Nwankwo) Kanu who springs up from nowhere to make things happen when it matters most.

“I think Keshi believes in him, hence he has kept faith with the player.”

The former Belgium-based winger, who is popularly called Kabongo, added, “I believe Oduamadi will perform in Brazil. If he’s a bad player AC Milan would have sold him instead of sending him on loan.

“It means they believe the player still has something to offer. Playing in Serie B doesn’t make Oduamadi a bad player. Kenneth Omeruo is a fantastic defender but he played for (Championship side) Middlesbrough last season. (Sunday) Mba is not a fantastic player but he gets the job done. We saw what he did at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year.

“Some players lack consistency in the league but are tournament players and I think he (Oduamadi) is one of them.

“Some of the people criticising Oduamadi also criticised Mikel Obi before the Africa Cup of Nations. But he (Mikel) proved them wrong. I think Oduamadi will do the same in Brazil.”

The 42-year-old former Real Madrid team B player, who lamented the omission of Villarreal hitman Ikechukwu Uche and Schalke 04 forward Chinedu Obasi from Nigeria’s World Cup squad, fears the defence could prove the Eagles’ undoing against elite teams in Brazil.

He said, “The attack is the only department that can be trusted in our team. I believe our attack can score goals in every game.

“Emmanuel Emenike and Ahmed Must have just won trophies with their clubs (Fenerbhace and CSKA Moscow respectively).

“Osaze (Odemwingie) played well at Stoke City and (Liverpool’s) Victor Moses also played well in the games he featured.

“I think Obasi’s inclusion in our squad would be a big plus. He uses both legs effectively and he’s energetic. But Keshi has his reason for not picking him and he has my support.

“I’m concerned about our defence. Our defenders are good but lack experience.

“Don’t forget, we are going to face the likes of (Argentina’s) Angel Di Maria and (Bosnia’s) Edin Dzeko at the World Cup.

“These are deadly attackers and we must work on our defence before the tournament.”