Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, named a 23-man list for this four-nation tournament involving Nigeria, Iran, Jordan and Costa Rica. On that list, three names stood out that kept the Nigeria national team supporters asking questions.
Philip Otele (26, Hamburger SV), Collins Yira Sor (25, Genk) and Emmanuel Fernandez (24, Rangers) were part of Chelle’s list for the international friendlies and also part of the proceedings as the Super Eagles enjoyed an impressive campaign in Turkey.
Chibuike Nwaiwu (22, Trabzonspor) also experienced the most unusual invitations, being called up to replace injured Calvin Bassey. Nwaiwu already plays in Turkey, so, when the Super Eagles came to town and needed a hand, it was easier to call him up.
Nwaiwu tanked some minutes in the international friendlies, and his scenario brings memories of Benjamin Fredrick who was called up to join the national team in a similar fashion. In this piece, we look at the tactical profile of each player and what they bring to the Super Eagles if integrated long term.
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To clarify things, the four-nation tournament was not a round-robin contest since the international window only allowed two friendly matches. Rather it allowed each country to take on any two teams from the pool, and for Nigeria, that was Iran and Jordan.
The Super Eagles ended that with a 1-2 win against Iran and a 2-2 draw against Jordan. All of the new names we are about to discuss had some game time, and some even got themselves on the scoresheet. Now, let’s take an analytical look at the tactical profile of each one of them.
Philip Otele
We start with 26-year-old winger Philip Otele, playing for Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga. This season, he has featured in 7 matches, starting 6, with 1 goal and 1 assist across 422 minutes played.
Otele is known for his dribbling. He can take on defenders and keep the ball even under pressure. He also has good passing quality, creating chances for teammates with key passes. His strength is on the left wing, where he can carry the ball and open up play.
Otele was part of the 55-man Afcon list released before the continental tournament even though he did not make the final cut. He was also one of the players featured in the Completesports.com ET5 series published last month.
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Now, let’s analyse Philip Otele’s weaknesses. For one, the data suggests that he struggles with pressing and overall involvement. His finishing is also average, and he does not pose a big threat inside the box. The data also suggests low activity in making deep runs or receiving the ball in dangerous areas.
For Chelle, Otele offers creativity and ball progression from wide areas. He can unlock defences with dribbles and passes. If he improves his pressing and goal scoring, he can become a reliable option on the flanks for Nigeria.
Considering his age, Otele has limited time to make his mark with the Super Eagles. During the international break, he did not tank as many minutes as he’d have hoped, subbed on for just nine minutes plus stoppage time against Jordan as the Super Eagles chased a match-winning goal.
Yira Sor
Next up is Collins Yira Sor. The 25-year-old, similar to Otele, plays on the wings but has a very different football persona when analysing his time in the Belgian Pro League. This season he has played 24 matches, starting 10 and scoring 4 goals across over 1100 minutes.
Unlike Otele, the data suggests that one of Yira Sor’s strengths is in his ability to press and finish. When out of possession, Yira Sor works hard, winning recoveries and interceptions. He is also a strong box threat.
From the left side of the box, he is dangerous and can score. However, during the international break, he started the game against Jordan on the right, having sat out the Iran tie. He played roughly an hour of football before being pulled out in favour of captain Wilfred Ndidi.
Furthermore, the data shows that Sor struggles with creativity. He hasn’t provided assists and his passing quality is below average per available data. Sor also tends to lose possession in key moments and struggles to progress the ball consistently. His game involvement is also limited.
Yira Sor was a media sensation at Genk when the club named him the fastest player in European football following their win over Gent. Sor brings directness, he can press high and finish chances but will need to improve his playmaking and involvement to thrive in the Super Eagles setup.
Sor must also prove he can score goals as well. He and Philip Otele still have some time until the next World Cup to show how valuable they can be to the Super Eagles, especially if they get called up to the next round of friendlies.
Emmanuel Fernandez
We won’t be taking a look at Chibuike Nwaiwu in this article, so the last of the new boys we are examining in this article is Emmanuel Fernandez. The 24-year-old central defender has played 21 matches in the Scottish Premiership this season, starting in 19 of them and scoring 5 goals for Rangers.
Fernandez is delivering an impressive season for Rangers, showcasing his defensive prowess and aerial strength. He contributes significantly to the team’s defensive stability, performing at an excellent level. Overall, he’s a dependable and impactful presence in the backline, and the Super Eagles will hope he can bring that into the national team.
Fernandez was on the radar of Arsenal, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, to name a few interests, and he has a price tag that will likely break Calvin Bassey’s transfer record if triggered. With his performance, it sure looks like Nigeria has found a gem for their defensive future.
As observed during the international window, Fernandez is a defender that has an eye for scoring goals, even scoring in his first start for the Super Eagles. He contributes goals from set pieces, just like he did for the Super Eagles on Tuesday in Turkey.
At club level, he has played over 1700 minutes and excels in both active and intelligent defence. For context, active defence refers to a player’s proactive efforts to regain possession and disrupt opponent attacks. It involves actions like tackling, intercepting passes, and winning duels.
Analysts calculate it based on metrics such as defending 1v1 percentage, defensive actions, possessions won, and tackle success. Intelligent defence, on the other hand, focuses on a player’s ability to read the game and make informed decisions to disrupt attacks, measured through ball recoveries, counterpressing recoveries, and interceptions.
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Fernandez’s weakness is in ball progression. The data suggests that he does not advance the ball well and struggles to make creative passes from deeper positions. On the right side of defence, his impact is also limited. One fun fact to add is that the data suggests that Fernandez can also play as a right winger.
For Chelle, Fernandez adds solidity to the Super Eagles backline. In Fernandez’s case, he wins defensive headers and provides some aerial threat upfront. He is also reliable under pressure and shows composure when in possession. Even if his passing is not top level, his defensive qualities make him a valuable addition to the squad.
Conclusion
Taking a holistic look at things, these inclusions might not outrightly replace legacy options like Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams, Benjamin Fredrick, Semi Ajayi or Calvin Bassey, who still have something in the tank for the next couple years.
However, put together, they add depth to the squad. A combination of Benjamin Fredrick and Emmanuel Fernandez could be good news for Nigeria’s future given how old Semi Ajayi (31) and Calvin Bassey (26) will be by the next World Cup.
Nigeria has often relied on established names, but new faces like these can change the dynamics if they blend well. With this newfound flow in the squad, the fans will also be watching closely, especially after the World Cup woes.
Finally, the Super Eagles are no strangers to potentials that never really materialise, but if these ones succeed, Chelle may have found three important pieces for the immediate and long-term future of Nigerian football.
By Alli Fesomade
