Pinnick Confident of Eagles' Strength-in-depth, as He Watches Etebo's First Training
President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member,
Mr Amaju Melvin Pin nick was in He rt ford shire, England yesterday as he watched the Àrst training session of Nigeria midÀeld ace, Oghenekaro Etebo who recently joined English Premiership side Watford FC from Turkey’s Galatasaray.
Hard-tackling Etebo has been a key Àgure in the Super Eagles’ set-up since impressing at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, where the U23 boys won Team Nigeria’s only medal at the games – a bronze.
He featured prominent ly in the qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as well as played at Russia 2018 and also featured in the qualifying race and Ànals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Etebowas also inÁuent ia lin the squad that won the ticket to the 2021 AFCON.
“Watford FC is gradually becoming a Super Eagles’ camp,” said a beaming Pinnick as he met with Club’s Technical Director, Cristiano Giaretta. “I told Mr Giaretta that we have six players at Watford FC now and three of them are regular Super Eagles teamers and therefore, we need to forge a stronger relationship with the club.
“Wat ford is returning to the Premier ship in the coming season, so it is a good feeling all around,” stressed the NFF Boss.
Apart from E te bo, there are also at Wat fordF CS up er Eagles’ deputy skipper William T roost-E kong, forward Em manuel Dennis, former junior inter nationals Isaac Success and Tom De le-Bas hi ru, and little know nD a po Mebude.
Between 2014 and 2017, former Super Eagles’ star Jude O dion Ighalo(t ops core r at the 2019 AFC ON) pulled up some trees at Watford FC, scoring a total of 36 goals in 90 matches in all for the Hornets.