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With his form at the 2013 AFCON, could Emmanuel Emenike be the new Rashidi Yekini for Nigeria?
Nigeria have been shopping for a proven goal getter since Rashidi Yekini exited the international scene after the 1998 World Cup in France.
The likes of Julius Aghahowa, Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni have been pretenders to the throne vacated by ‘Ye-King’.
Could Emenike now be the man to fill the big boots long left behind by Yekini?
Eagles coach Stephen Keshi, for one, is not in doubt that Nigeria have another prolific striker in the mould of the late Yekini, who holds the all-time goals record of 37 goals.
However, the man he succeeded as Eagles coach in November 2011 and who first capped Emenike two years ago, Samson Siasia, told reporters that a comparision with Yekini would only spark undue pressure on the Spartak Moscow star.
“Nobody can be Yekini,” said Siasia, who in his hey days played alongside the great man.
“He will be put under undue pressure with such comparision, but what I know for sure is that he will be a great striker of repute."
“He still has a long way to go, while Yekini scored goals for many years for the Eagles and so we have to wait and see to if he is the one to fill Yekini's big boots in the Eagles.”
Another ex-international, Jonathan Akpoborie, told NE that no player of the current generation could be in the class of Yekini.
"Emenike the new Yekini? Nobody can be new Yekini in this generation. Rashidi Yekini was unique, and now by comparing Emenike with him, it will put the young man under pressure,”reasoned Akpoborie.
“He is a very strong player who can handle the system (Stephen) Keshi wants to play and he is doing well."
What is not under dispute is that the powerful 25-year-old striker has done well for the various clubs he has played for, starting from MP Black Aces in South Africa, where he scored three goals in seven matches.
He was also a king in Turkey, where he netted 30 times for Karabukspor in 50 matches.
At his present club, Spartak Moscow, Emenike is the priceless asset having scored 18 goals in 37 matches.
He is a fighter, a strong and pacy forward who plays with all his being, putting. His form at the AFCON has clearly showed that he is capable of taking over the goals scoring responsibility in Eagles, just like Yekini did in the 90s.
Four (4 ) goals already in this year's AFCON, with a big shout at earning the top goal scorer and the most valuable player awards, Just 25 years old, Emmanuel Emenike is the next BIG thing surely. The whole world should watch out for this lad. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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