by Aderonke Bello

Few months ago on my Facebook wall, in my usual manner of seeking public opinion about issues, I asked my friends about Iwobi whom I think is an average player.

What’s the hype around him? Just because he plays at Arsenal or because he is the legendary JayJay Okocha’s nephew? Seriously what’s the big deal with that….?

Concerning Iheanacho whom I once tagged a rough diamond in one of my recent articles, so, just because he is a Manchester city player and of course a FIFA world cup gold medalist. Is there any thing new about that? Whats the big deal?

Just yesterday, Nigeria played their first match of the ongoing FIFA 2018 world cup qualifier with these two young lads scoring the winning goals amidst their senior EPL counterparts, Ahmed Musa and Mikel Obi. That’s the big deal.

Iwobi and Iheanacho are young lads who grow right under our noses and are developing into fine players.  Their likes can make the super eagles great again if we can assemble young legs like them and look away from the old men with their fake age. With time, a replica of the 1994 AFCON winning super eagles squad will be produced. That’s the big deal.

Their youthfulness, consistency, skills, patriotism and humility unlike the now old guys with opposite attitude at their age is a plus and of course a big deal.

Iwobi is so fluent with his passing and good dynamism on the field of play, he also reads the game well for one so young; Iheanacho on the other hand, is a natural goal scorer who reminds me of Didier Drogba. I think he can find the net with his eyes closed. That’s the big deal.

Both guys minus injury are surely here to stay and we need to start searching for more young legs and unearth more talent,  rather than stop calling up old legs,  drowned in their ego and wealth. The youths are taking over the super eagles, lets rejoice because its a big deal.

Iwobi snubbed England for Nigeria and shining like a bright diamond unlike Ibe (hybe) who shunned Nigeria for  England and may likely not smell the England senior national team, Iwobi’s decision is a big deal.

Iheanacho started from the junior cadre like Kanu Nwankwo and fast growing into a fine player alike, no shaking. Iwobi scored his first ever international goal with many more to come without a doubt, that’s a big deal.

Iwobi and Iheanacho were denied appearances by Samson Siasia during the AFCON qualifiers – we did not qualify, maybe those guys would have scored and help the team, that was a big deal.

Arsenal is set to give Iwobi an improved  deal after his impressive performances, that is a big deal.

Iheanacho’s goal against Zambia is pure class, I’ve never seen anything like that before, that GOAL was a big deal.

The emergence of these talents give us hope for a brighter future for the Super Eagles, it becomes a big deal.

I can go on and on…  You can also sing along and add your own big deal.

Thanks for reading.

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Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija