Hat-trick hero Chisom
Chikatara, midfielder Usman Mohammed and defender Orji Kalu have pushed for starting shirts with Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the CHAN on the strength of their displays against Niger, officials have disclosed.
Chikatara came off the bench in the 58th minute to replace the hugely ineffective Tunde Adeniji and he showed his class with three well-taken goals and could even have scored more against Mena.
He has done more than enough to lead the Eagles strike force against Tunisia on Friday afternoon.
Usman Mohammed did more in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch than the older and more experienced Bartholomew ‘Mosquito’ Ibenegbu produced in 70 minutes.
“‘Mosquito’ was far apart from the two defensive midfielders, Paul Onobi and Ifeanyi Matthew. He could not thread a through pass to the attack, he did not follow the tactical instructions,” said one official.
Jamiu Alimi was outstanding in the team’s training camp in South Africa, but he was a nervous wreck in the heart of the defence against Niger on Monday so much so that he bagged a booking after a late reaction and he was promptly hauled off after just 16 minutes.
And his replacement Orji Kalu came in to post a solid display in central defence, a position he plays for his club Enugu Rangers, even though the Eagles have used him in right back.
With the return from suspension of Austin Obaroakpo, it is left to be seen whether coach Sunday Oliseh will stick with the new central defence pairing of Kalu and Stephen Eze or get Obaroakpo back in the deep end right away against Tunisia on Friday.
Meanwhile Kano Pillars have said that Nigeria CHAN hero Chisom Chikatara has given them his word he will sign for them in the new season should he still be in the domestic league by then.
Abia Warriors striker  Chikatara, 21, announced his emergency on the international  stage on Monday when he came off the bench to fire in three goals for Nigeria to beat Niger 4-1 and get off to winning start at CHAN 2016.
“We have not signed any contract papers with Chikatara, but he has given us his word that Kano Pillars is the club he will play for next session if by then his is still playing in the league”, Pillars spokesman Idris Mlikawa disclosed.
“He approached us and he said he would love to play for us”.
Last year, ‘Kolanut boy’ Chikatara had trials in Switzerland but Abia Warriors said the offer was too poor to consider.
Last season, Christian Obiozor joined Pillars after he scored the winner for Nigeria against Zimbabwe in a third place match at the 2014 CHAN in South Africa.
However, midway through the campaign the big striker opted to quit the four-time league champions.