Despite his recent arrival and limited playing experience, Nigerian attacker Chidera Ejuke of Sevilla FC is creating waves in La Liga and emerging as the league’s best dribbler, according to Soccernet. His outstanding exploits, meanwhile, have not been sufficient to earn him a place in the Nigerian national squad.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Ejuke’s remarkable stats have seen him successfully dribble past opponents 17 times in just 265 minutes, averaging a dazzling one successful dribble every 15 minutes. This feat puts him ahead of high-profile players like Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, as well as Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
Mbappé and Yamal, who each have 16 dribbles, and Vinícius, with 13 dribbles, have all played more minutes – 439, 443, and 487, respectively – yet they have not surpassed Ejuke’s dribbling success rate. This is a testament to Ejuke’s exceptional ability on the pitch and his growing influence in La Liga.
Despite his eye-catching displays in Belgium and Spain, Ejuke’s talent has not been recognized by the Nigerian national team. Coach José Peseiro excluded him from the Africa Cup of Nations in January, a tournament where Nigeria finished with a silver medal. Finidi George continued this oversight during the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifiers in June.
Interim coach Austin Eguavoen, who had previously given Ejuke his AFCON debut during the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, has also left him out of the squad for recent AFCON qualifiers. Ejuke, now 26, has featured in just eight games for Nigeria, with his last appearance being a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in 2022.
As Ejuke continues to excel in La Liga, the question remains whether the Nigerian national team will reconsider their stance on the talented winger. With his impressive performances, Ejuke is making a strong case for inclusion in the Super Eagles.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
