See Why Naija Football Has Not Grown
See Why Naija Football Has Not Grown
At the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea, the Golden Eaglets were in all-conquering form as they strode to Nigeria’s third title in that category. One of the players leading the line for the Africans was Ganiyu Oseni, who played all the champions’ six games and gave defenders nightmares with his strength and pace.
At the same championship, Germany could only finish third with Toni Kroos their star player and the Golden Ball winner with five goals from midfield. Both Oseni and Kroos were expected to go on to have great careers.
Four years on, while the German is fulfillilling expectations and his career is on the rise with Bayern Munich, the Nigerian has been in rapid decline.
Oseni had the better of Kroos when both teams met in the semi-finals, leading the Eaglets to a 3-1 win.
But it is Kroos who is having the far better career, playing four games for Germany at the last senior World Cup in South Africa last year and emerging as a key figure in Bayern’s Bundesliga and Champions League campaign.
Logically, at 20 or 21 (officially Oseni was born on September 19, 1991; Kroos on January 4, 1990) a player should be looking forward to a bright future. While this is true for Kroos, Oseni’s career has already reached its peak and is now downhill. He is now dwelling on a bright past.
The Nigerian is at present without a club after a journeyman career that has seen him play in Tunisia, Russia and far-flung Vietnam. His stock has fallen so low that he was not considered good enough for the mediocre U-23 Eagles team that failed at the Olympic play-offs in Morocco.
At the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea, the Golden Eaglets were in all-conquering form as they strode to Nigeria’s third title in that category. One of the players leading the line for the Africans was Ganiyu Oseni, who played all the champions’ six games and gave defenders nightmares with his strength and pace.
At the same championship, Germany could only finish third with Toni Kroos their star player and the Golden Ball winner with five goals from midfield. Both Oseni and Kroos were expected to go on to have great careers.
Four years on, while the German is fulfillilling expectations and his career is on the rise with Bayern Munich, the Nigerian has been in rapid decline.
Oseni had the better of Kroos when both teams met in the semi-finals, leading the Eaglets to a 3-1 win.
But it is Kroos who is having the far better career, playing four games for Germany at the last senior World Cup in South Africa last year and emerging as a key figure in Bayern’s Bundesliga and Champions League campaign.
Logically, at 20 or 21 (officially Oseni was born on September 19, 1991; Kroos on January 4, 1990) a player should be looking forward to a bright future. While this is true for Kroos, Oseni’s career has already reached its peak and is now downhill. He is now dwelling on a bright past.
The Nigerian is at present without a club after a journeyman career that has seen him play in Tunisia, Russia and far-flung Vietnam. His stock has fallen so low that he was not considered good enough for the mediocre U-23 Eagles team that failed at the Olympic play-offs in Morocco.
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