Without a doubt one of
the biggest posers for millions of Nigeria fans is whether the goals of Emmanuel Emenike have finally dried up.
Nicknanied ‘The New Yekini’, Emenike has not scored in the last 11 games for Nigeria after he last hit target for the African champions on October 13, 2013, in a 2-1 win over Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup playoff, where he scored a brace.
He completely bombed at the World Cup in Brazil, where he failed to score in four appearances much against pre-tournament forecasts.
Emenike’s goals drought is a major problem for the Super Eagles as they have in the past two years depended a great deal on his goals.
The highlight of Emenike’s international career was at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, where he emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.
He enjoyed the whole-hearted endeavour of twin striker Brown Ideye, who assisted in his goals at South Africa 2013.
His partnerships with Osaze Odemwingie and Shola Ameobi have not been as effective, and he looked all stranded and on his own at Brazil 2014.
The Fenerbache striker is also a marked man since his exploits at the 2013 AFCON and many teams believe if they could stop him, they would have neutralised the Super Eagles as well.
The lack of creativity in the Eagles midfield has equally held back the former Sparkak Moscow star because he is that kind of striker who needs good supplies from the middle for him to make hay.
Also, for all his hard work, speed, power and commitment, Emenike has not shown enough tact and intelligence to lose his markers.
He is direct and very predictable, which makes it easier for defenders to mark him out of a game.
Ex-Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie told newsmen that Emenike has to do a lot more now to end his goal drought in Eagles.
“I have watched Emenike for a long time now and personally, I believe he has a lot of power and speed, but he lacks a little in the skill department, which he needs to really work on,” said the former Wolfsburg striker.
“The midfield is not doing well enough to get balls across to him and this is contributing to his lack of goals,”
“But do we need to look for someone for him to get the goals every time? He too should try and add some skills to his power and speed and he will be among the best in the world.
“He has gone 11 games for the Eagles without a goal, and because we rely on him for the goals, we can see why our national team are not doing well at the moment.”
Akpoborie will suggest Nigeria give another player to lead the country’s strike force.
“As far as I am concerned, the coach should start looking elsewhere for another player to score goals for the team,” he said.
“This is a national team and he has to perform or the coach gets a new striker on board. We have many of them by the way.”
“A player is only as good as his last game. That’s football for you.”
After a rather slow start in his international career, Emenike has scored 15 goals in 26 games for Eagles.
His lean spell is another test of his strong character.
If he could overcome this slump, Emenike will again be on his way to becoming one of the country’s most feared goal bursters.
Alao writes for African Football. Com

Olusola Alao