FC Midtjylland of Denmark striker, Paul Onuachu has admitted he was loaded with a high level of delight after getting his first start for the Super Eagles and netting the only goal of the game in Tuesday’s high-profile international friendly against Egypt.
Sports247.ng reports that, after getting his national team debut as a second half substitute in Friday’s last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Onuachu looked resplendent, as he stepped out from the word go for the follow-up game versus Egypt, and netted what has become the second fastest ever international goal scored in world football.
Tuesday’s seventh second sizzler from Onuachu was the only goal that sank Egypt at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, and the product of Sagamu, Ogun State-based lower league side, FC Ebedei broke a Nigerian record of 14 seconds held by Monday Odiaka, which he enacted at Moscow 1985 World Youth Championship.
Onuachu is now behind only former Arsenal striker, Lukas Podolski, who holds the world record of scoring the fatest goal in international soccer, when the Poland-born star netted after just six seconds for Germany in a friendly match against Ecuador in 2013.
The towering Onuachu also entered continental soccer records book, as he got the fastest goal in an international involving two African national teams and second qucikest on African soil, two seconds behind that by Club Africain’s Ghazi Ayadi, who struck on six seconds in a 2-1 win for his side versus CS Sfaxien at Stade Olympique, Radès on December 6, 2017.
For Tuesday’s climax to three top-grade international matches within five days in the Delta State capital, Onuachu, got Gernot Rohr’s nod to start, as the Franco-German gaffer’s preferred arrow head, Odion Jude Ighalo was not fit enough, after a knock against Seychelles on Friday.
With Eagles’ stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa also not available, as he took permission to make a quick return to his base in Saudi Arabia, the onus fell on Onuachu to bell the cat in search of Nigeria’s goals.
While Onuachu was meant to rain goals for Nigeria’s victory, the man saddled with the duty of stopping any from going into the Eagles’ net was out-of-favour Daniel Akpeyi, from Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa.
Joining Akpeyi on Eagles’ redemption mission was Leon Balogun, who was axed from the start list against Seychelles on account of his current status of redundancy at his club, Brighton & Hove Albion of England.
Balogun’s partner in defence and captain of the day had to be Udinese of Italy stopper, William Troost-Ekong, with Abdullahi Shehu at right-back and Jamilu Collins on the left of the back-four.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva of Israel giant, John Ugochukwu Ogu returned to the middle with the England-based pair of Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, with Moses Simon and Henry Onyekuru on the flanks.
