Main PageBryan Idowu: 5 things you should know about new Super Eagles defender
These are the five things you should know about Super Eagles new defender Bryan Idowu.
There is a new defender in Super Eagles camp who could make his debut for Nigeria in the Tuesday, November 13 friendly against Argentina.
Bryan Idowu joined up with the Super Eagles squad at their base in Krasnodar, Russia ahead of the friendly game against Argentina on Tuesday, November 11.
He introduced himself in a video shared on the Super Eagles official Twitter account.
“I’m Bryan Ola Idowu; I’m a defender for Russian team FC Amker Perm¸in Russian Premier League, I’m happy to be here and invited to be part of Super Eagles,” Idowu said in the video.
“I’m going to do my best and take this chance and opportunity to play my best football and be with the squad for a long time and to help the team any way I possibly can.
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“I’m very excited because this is a great opportunity for Nigeria after qualifying for the World Cup. We are preparing and we are going to bring joy and excitement to Nigerians.”
The left-back appeared at the press conference ahead of the friendly game against Argentina alongside Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi and coach Gernot Rohr.
These are five things you should know about Idowu
1. Early days
Idowu was born and raised in St. Petersburg but spent a few years between the ages of three and six in Owerri, Nigeria. His father is Nigerian while his mother is half Russian, half-Nigerian.
2. Club career
Idowu started his football career at FC Smena St. Petersburg in Petersburg but left when the club dissolved for Zenith St Petersburg. He left Zenith St Petersburg when he was 18 and joined FC Amker Perm.
3. FC Amker Perm
It was with FC Amker Perm that he made his Russian Premier League debut in May 2012. He spent the 2013-2014 season on-loan at Dynamo St. Petersburg before returning to seal a regular place at FC Amker Perm. This season so far, he has played 14 out 16 league games for Amker who are currently 12th on the Russian Premier League table.
4. Playing style explained
Idowu is a right-footed defender who has found a place in right-back at Amker. Aid by a decent left-foot, the 25-year-old is known to be very versatile. He started as a right-back but his versatility meant he was soon shifted to left-back where he has been decent. He has also excelled as a wing-back in a three-man defence formation and also in midfield
This season, he has played in central defence and also in wing-back positions.
5. Can he make Super Eagles squad to 2018 FIFA World Cup?
It is likely that Idowu will be on the Super Eagles plane to Russia. Rohr needs four full-backs for the tournament and only three players have boarded his flight to Russia. First choice left-back Elderson Echiejile played five out of the six games in the qualifiers and is also on board. He only missed the game against Algeria on Friday, November 10 because of an injury he sustained against Zambia.
Shehu Abdullahi has made the right-back position his own with some decent performance while Ola Aina is waiting to snag the Super Eagles right-back role. Both are already on board.
Idowu will have to slug it out with Tyronne Ebuehi for the last slot in the Super Eagles full-back positions.
Ebuehi already has played two games for the Super Eagles but in those warm-up games against Corsica and Togo, the 21-year-old defender did nothing of note.
Idowu has a chance to come and grab the last slot in Super Eagles full-back positions. He’s more physical, versatile and experienced than Ebuehi and a strong showing against Argentina and subsequent games will hand him a ticket to board Super Eagles’ plane to Russia 2018.
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