Former Super Eagles left back Ifeanyi Udeze has heaped plaudits on Paderborn of Germany’s Jamilu Collins for his outstanding performances in Nigeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya.
Collins was in action in the doubleheaders and Udeze who was in Nigeria’s team to the 2002 and 2004 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Mali and Tunisia respectively spoke on Brila FM on Wednesday on his opinion about Collins’s value to the team.
“I want to see how Collins contributes joining the attack. His recovery rate when the team lose the ball is good because that’s what I look out for,” Udeze said.
“I will give him a 7/10 for his performances against Libya. He has a lot of potentials but has not shown all his qualities because he is still new in the team so has to build his confidence. It’s not easy to wear the green and white jerseys of the Nigerian national team.
“Collins’s role model, according to him, is Real Madrid and Brazil’s Marcelo. People say the present players need to watch our videos, former Super Eagles left backs like Celestine Babayaro, Ben Iroha and myself but that’s the present player he is watching. Roberto Carlos was my own role model during my playing days.
On the areas that the young left back needs to improve upon, the onetime West Brom of England and Greece’s PAOK defender noted:
“The way you play for your club is different from the national team. He needs to work on his speed and tackling, they are very key.”
Barring any injury, Collins is expected to be part of the Super Eagles to face South Africa in November.
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