With major football leagues across europe on break till August, football lovers have embraced the opportunity to see some of the world’s leading soccer stars on parade at the ongoing FIFA confederation cup in brazil.
Brazil will play host to the rest of the world next july when the 2014 edition of the FIFA world cup kicks off. The confederations cup is a chance to show the world what to expect come 2014.
The super Eagles of Nigeria earned the right to represent Africa at the competition this year after triumphs at AFCON 2013 earlier this year. just like Nigerians were stunned at the team head coach Steven Keshi paraded at the AFCON finals, the graffer has once again called up relatively unknown commodities at the expense of established names.
The introduction of Nnamdi Oduamadi to the fold of the national team was greeted with the usual Nigerian skepticism but after his performance against lowly Tahiti where the young striker bagged a hat trick in an impressive showing, many are beginning to herald the birth of a new star.
Born in lagos, Nnamdi Chidiebere Oduamadi started playing football at the prestigious Pepsi football academy at the tender age of 7.
He left the shores of this country in 2008 to join AC Milan, although he only officially signed for them in January 2009 and was a part of the U-20 team that won the Coppa italia primavera in 2010.
” Odu” as he is called in the city of Milan where he plies his trade is actually not a new entry into the National team fold as he has been called up at U-17 and U-21 levels to represent his country.
Not many know this but the player made his international debut for Nigeria against Kenya way back in 2011 coming on as a second half substitute.
The lanky winger cum striker got his 1st senior goal for Nigeria this year with a last minute, all important equalizer against Kenya and many have tipped him for great things.
AC Milan is due to recall the striker after season long loan spell with serie B outfit Varese where he made 11 appearamce scoring trice, expectations are high.
One can only hope that he reaches the heights of expectations that soccer loving Nigerians are beginning to set of the young forward with some already drawing comparisms with the legendary Nwankwo Kanu.
Follow the writer on twitter @ahforbaje.