Taribo West believes Manchester City wonderkid Kelechi Iheanacho has the potential to be as good as Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi “If nurtured properly”.
The 18-year-old striker joined the Premier League giants in the summer of 2013 – after guiding Nigeria to their fourth FIFA Under-17 World Cup triumph in the United Arab Emirates.
Iheanacho was a sensation at the UAE 2013 tournament, scoring six goals and seven assists to emerge as the championship’s Golden Ball winner. He also won the Silver Ball.
The ex-Golden Eaglets forward, whose career at Man City has been plagued by injuries, was on course for a place in the first team following his head-turning performances in their pre-season tour, scoring a goal against Sporting Kansas. However, the Citizens failed to secure a work permit for the player Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini described as “a very important player for us in the future”.
And former Nigeria defender Taribo lavished praise on Iheanacho, who has been in terrific form, scoring goals for the Blues’ youth team since returning from injury, insisting the ex-Taye Academy star can be in the class of Messi.
But the former AC Milan and Inter Milan defence ace expressed concern over the future of the young player, who has been penciled in for a place in Man City’s first team next season.
“Yes, Iheanacho can be as good as Messi or Neymar if nurtured properly,” Taribo, who represented Nigeria at the France ’98 and Korea/Japan 2002 World Cups, told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.
“Messi, Neymar and (Cristiano) Ronaldo are products of a good academy system. They are great players today because they passed through a system with people who have a deep knowledge of football.
“We saw what Messi and Neymar did in the Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Bayern Munich on Wednesday. We have such players in Nigeria and Iheanacho is one of them.
“If the NFF has a good plan for youth development, Iheanacho will transform into one of the best players in the world.
“(Iheanacho’s UAE 2013 co-winners) Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success and Musa Muhammed are also good players, and they are the future of the Super Eagles.
“I’m happy they have graduated from the Golden Eaglets into the Flying Eagles and will be representing the country at the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand (from May 30 to June 20).”
The Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games gold medallist added, “It’s unfortunate that ex-internationals are not respected in Nigeria. They would be of help to players like Iheanacho and Awoniyi if given an opportunity to work with them in the national team.
“Ex-internationals who played the game in Europe understand the language of football and know how they develop young players into champions (in Europe).
“We should be given an opportunity to work with players at the NFF and National Sports Commission levels.
“Nigeria is the only country where a player who played for the national team for many years is jobless.
“(The NFF President) Amaju Pinnick is the one travelling to Europe to discuss with some of our players instead of Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, who are our soccer ambassadors. It’s not so in Europe.”
The ex-Kaiserslautern player, who helped Nigeria win silver at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, backed the NFF’s decision to renew Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi’s contract after months of protracted negotiations.
He said, “It’s a golden opportunity for Keshi to prove his worth again. He can help us make the Eagles better. But he must learn from his mistakes and experience with the NFF.
“I think Daniel Amokcahi is still relevant to the team. He has been loyal to Keshi. If there is any problem between them, they should resolve it. Keshi needs Amokachi as his assistant, because he’s a good coach.”
Taribo urged the Eagles manager to focus on the domestic league for players to strengthen the team.
“We need players who are hungry for success in the Eagles,” the 1998 Europa League winner said.
“We failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations because some of our players are no longer hungry for success. We won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations because there were many players hungry for success in the team.
“(These days) some of the players are not good enough for the national team. Keshi should focus on the domestic league for strikers and defenders who he can make better players.
“Iheanacho, Awoniyi and Success should be considered, because they are hungry for success.
“There are other players in the Flying Eagles playing in Europe who are also good. They should be given a chance to prove themselves. (Esperance striker) Emem Eduok and (Enyimba striker) Mfom Udoh are good strikers. They should also be given a chance.”
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