Nigeria defensive midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, sat down with FIFA.com to talk about himself and hope for the Super Eagles as the world count down to the World Cup in Russia.
Ogenyi Onazi exhibits a personality that is taller than him. A member of the Nigeria World Cup team to Brazil 2014, the 25-year- old has had his fair share of ups and downs – very much like the Super Eagles. For much of the four years since Onazi made his FIFA World Cup debut with Nigeria, things have been somewhat trying while wearing the green-white brand. After equalling their best-ever finish by reaching the Brazil 2014 Round of 16, serious stumbles followed for the then reigning African champions.
But for injury, the Trabzonspor of Turkey star player has always stood tall in central midfield for Nigeria and after appearing in all four games for Nigeria in Brazil World Cup, it was not easy for any national team coach to ignore him again.
In the past, the petite player would have been written off as too slight to cope with the rigours of being a dynamic figure in the midfield. However, he and the likes of Frenchman N’Golo Kante are disproving the notion that size matters. “Football today is beyond size, weight and physique. Most important is to try to be fit in every aspect of life.”
That versatility is complemented by an enthusiasm he radiates both on and off the field. “I’m just trying to do things the way I feel it’s right and I believe so much in personality and trying to be someone who is going to make people happy. This is my objective in life: To make people happy and to make sure that they have hopes that things are going to be better in life,” he explained.
After failing to qualify for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in over 40 years, they were at a low ebb. “At that moment we had a lot of trouble in the country with the federation, between the players, and there was a lot of confusion in the team,” Onazi admitted to FIFA.com.
So, for fans to see their beloved Nigeria grouped with Africa’s current cup holders Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia on the road to Russia, doubts unsurprisingly bubbled – but not in the dressing room.
“We didn’t give up because we had the opportunity to prove we were really a team and we were able to make it,” the midfielder recalled, having topped their qualifying group in style. “We just told ourselves we have to do this for everybody; we gave all our hearts from day one to the very last.”
The Eagle’s heartbeat
Heart is very much something the Trabzonspor man brings to the Super Eagles side, pulling on the captain’s armband a number of times. Operating within Nigeria’s core, his boundless energy provides a rapid beat to their midfield and, when mixed with a steely determination, it creates a frustrating cocktail for opponents to contend with both offensively and defensively.
In the past, the 25-year-old would have been written off as too slight to cope with the rigours of being a dynamic figure in the midfield.
“For me, this is about modern football. Modern football is: if you can be there before your opponent, that’s the most important thing. [Central midfield] is one of the most difficult positions in football because you determine how the game is going to be played – fast or slow – and how it unfolds tactically.”
Adept around the field, this partly dates back to 2009 when his Nigeria side strode to the FIFA U-17 World Cup final. “When I was growing up, I used to play as an attacker, from the right or left wing, or even as a striker. In the under-17s, when I played with Coach John Obuh I played virtually all positions – it was only the goalkeeping position I didn’t play [laughs].”
That is why these fallow few years hurt so much, and qualification meant the world to Onazi and his team-mates. “It was a really good moment for us. We had to celebrate it very well with our captain John Mikel Obi.”
Russian reunions
With the tournament closing in fast and preparations already well underway – a 1-0 win over Poland was soured somewhat with a 2-0 defeat by Serbia last week – their Group D opponents are quickly coming into focus. While European duo Iceland and Croatia will propose stiff tests, a reunion with Argentina is the real eye-catcher.
Having felt the sting of a thrilling 3-2 defeat four years ago, Onazi is intent on not succumbing to La Albiecelste again. “What cannot kill you makes you stronger,” he said defiantly. “This is the mentality we want to use. The true Argentina is one of the best in the world and it’s not going to be easy.
“When you do something, you try to learn from what you’ve done to be better, so we’ve learned from our mistakes in Brazil and now it’s time for us to correct them and do the best we can.”
Should Onazi manage to convert his heart and commitment into three points against Leo Messi and Co., that life objective of making others happy will be able to be checked off for another day, as he’ll likely hear the cheers from Abuja all the way in Saint Petersburg.
DANGER! Ikechukwu Ezenwa kicked on the chest by Fai Collins after trying to make a second save off Vincent Aboubakar’s missile. Medics attend to him and he is back on his feet. Ogenyi Onazi has been replaced by Etebo OghenekaroCameroon have made their third and final alteration, with Fabrice Olinga making way for Moumi Ngamaleu.