The outcry for Gernot Rohr to play CSKA Moscow wing forward Chidera Ejuke as the number 10 of the Super Eagles reached new heights after his dazzling performance against Central Africa Republic (CAR) in the World Cup qualifiers.
Ejuke was introduced as a substitute for Nigeria in the 2-0 away win and even though he didn’t have a hand in any of the goals his mesmerising dribbling runs caught the attention of Nigerians.
It led to talks about playing him in the playmaker role of the Super Eagles due to his ability to go past his markers with ease. It provoked memories of another number ten in the legendary Austin Okocha.
However to play as a number ten requires more than dribbling as said by the coach of the Italian team Roberto Mancini per an article written by Solace Chukwu for https://chaosdigestbysolace.substack.com/p/chi-dera-and-the-legend-of-the-ten “ “The trequartista is an artist who knows how and where to unmark himself depending on where ball, team-mates and opponents are and move. In other words, he has a 360-degree vision and when he comes into possession, he can create something new.”
Another thing to note is that although he started as number ten in Nigeria since his move to Europe he has played 95% on the wings starting from Valerenga in Norway down to Heerenveen of the Netherlands and now at CSKA Moscow.
It was only at Valerenga that he played as a ten in nine games but he was largely ineffective and it came as no surprise when he was shifted back to the wings and he immediately stepped up and became one of the best wingers in the league.
” I first saw him he was playing for a local Kaduna team called Ikon Allah FC then later with the Amunike team of 2015 and he was a delight to watch playing in the number ten role. He was subsequently dropped from that team”, Kaduna based journalist Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman reveals.
“Then he had a short trial at Liverpool. Returned to Nigeria and played for Supreme Court and later Gombe United. At Gombe United he played as a winger as well”, he concluded.
One thing to note is if he isn’t seen as a number ten by coaches of the three European teams he has played for despite working with him on a daily basis, then their is no base for him to be the number ten of the Super Eagles, a place where camping usually last for at most four days.
Also his poor return in terms of goals and assists means he isn’t in the frame to play as a modern day ten when the qualities mentioned above serve as the first criteria to be picked as number ten. At club level he has just 17 assists from 141 games with just 22 goals. Not quite the number required to play in the number ten position.
