Newly capped Nigeria international defender Igho Ogbu says former Nigeria international defender Taribo West is his role model after his debut yesterday in the Unity Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
The Slavia Prague defender has been on the verge of a senior national team call up for the past two years, before getting his maiden call up in March during the World Cup Qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively, but didn’t get to play in both games.
Head coach Eric Chelle gave him another chance by including him in the squad for the Unity Cup, and yesterday he lasted the entire duration of the Super Eagles 2-1 win over Ghana yesterday, a result that sealed their spot in the final against Jamaica on Saturday.
Speaking after the game, he was asked his role model and he picked the former Super Eagles hardmans who had spells with Auxerre, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Derby County among others as his inspiration.
“There are a lot of players with the type of playing style like I play and they are top defenders. I watch these guys and I am very proud . These guys, I’m very proud. Oh, when I see them, so I think a lot of Taribo West”, he said before going ahead to shower praises on the Atalanta 96 gold medalist.
“His videos are amazing, and when you watch them, you can see the passion you know, and that is what drives us we that are upcoming. So I think for me, I’m I’m really happy to get to know them. I don’t know what they have brought to football, not just to football, but Nigeria as a whole”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
