Five Super Eagles players that needed World Cup 2022 in Qatar as shop window

The group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will round off on Friday with some teams already eliminated from the tournament. 

Most Nigerians continue to rue the absence of the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Qatar while other have moved on and are now firmly behind other African teams still in the tournament.

Allnigeriasoccer.com here presents the Nigerian players that would have desperately needed to be included in the team had Nigeria qualified at the expense of Ghana. 

1. Francis Uzoho

Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho plays in the Cypriot league for Omonia Nicosia.

Not many football fans watch the leagues on the backwater of European football and Uzoho is not unmindful to that. 

Not too long ago in the UEFA Europa League, the Nigerian put in a magnificent performance in Nicosia's narrow defeat to Manchester United but on the evidence of that showing, Uzoho proved that with a good trainer, he can be a better goalkeeper.

Qatar 2022 surely would have been the stage to prove that heroics against the Red Devils was not a fluke.

Uzoho was the man in between posts when Nigeria lost out to Ghana in the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs in March and conceded the goal scored by Thomas Partey at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja. 

2. Maduka Okoye

Still sticking with the goalkeepers, Championship side Watford may have only acquired the services of Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye less than one year ago from the Eredivisie but the Nigerian is a man with redemption on his mind.

Just like Uzoho, Okoye has been heavily criticized for his performance in Nigeria's defeat to Tunisia at the round of 16 stages of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Ever since that gaffe, the keeper has not courted so many friends and admirers despite his great looks which most fans drooled over when he first came into the team.

3. Emmanuel Dennis

Former Club Brugge and Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis may be playing for Nottingham Forest and not find himself unattached.

However, the Nigerian would know that the chances of the team staying in the English Premier League and avoiding relegation are slim. 

Dennis is a player that thinks highly of his unquestionable talent and rightly so, on his day, he can decide a game as evidenced by his performance in Club Brugge's clash against Real Madrid some seasons back. 

The speedy forward would have relished an appearance at the Mundial in Qatar to showcase his abilities more. 

4. Wilfred Ndidi 

There has been a debate over the world class status or otherwise of a few players in the Super Eagles, specifically the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Osimhen. 

Many fans of Ndidi some seasons ago believe Ndidi had proven to be Africa's best defensive midfielder. 

The performance of Ndidi of late has been average albeit an injury setback contributed to that factor. 

Ndidi would have been guaranteed a place in the team once he is fit and an appearance at his second World Cup in Qatar was an opportunity to finally get the dream move that truly befits his talent.

5. Alex Iwobi

Who knows, an appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar might have been the big chance for Everton forward to get himself a top 6 club.

Austin Jay Jay Okocha's nephew has been one of the best midfield players in the Premier league tho season.

The decision of Frank Lampard to play former Arsenal star Iwobi in Central midfield and not out wide has paid dividends.

With age still in his side, going by the form Iwobi had been before the World Cup break, it is safe to say that he merited a team in the top echelons of the league.

Izuchukwu Michael

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