Liverpool Adventure Holds No Fear For Taiwo Awoniyi - Solace Chukwu

The cycle for Nigeria U20 teams is pretty much a cliché at this point. Flush from the promise of a splendid showing at U17 level, the graduates invariably stumble at the next age-grade. In doing so, the nation comes to a sobering realisation: perhaps they weren’t as good as perceived after all.

What follows is a pitiable scattering to the four winds; players are forgotten, careers sputter but fail to spark into life, and attention is turned to the next set of U17s.

This pattern has been repeated once more, following the disappointment of the Flying Eagles’ performaces in New Zealand in June, but this time, there are a few welcome exceptions. Kelechi Iheanacho has shaken the unflattering and pessimistic comparisons to Femi Opabunmi to rise to a place in the Manchester City first team. He will now be joined in English football by team-mate and striker Taiwo Awoniyi.