‘Want to see him in Premier League’ – Finidi’s big call behind rise of new Super Eagles star

Former Golden Eaglets assistant coach Yemi Olarenwaju has explained how a simple but bold decision by former Super Eagles coach Finidi George changed the career of Chibuike Nwaiwu, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 22-year-old, now playing for Trabzonspor, was not always a centre-back. He began as a defensive midfielder during his early days at Enyimba. But that changed after Finidi spotted qualities that could make him more effective in defence.

Barely three years after leaving Nigeria for Europe, Nwaiwu made his Super Eagles debut on Friday Nigeria’s 2-1 international friendly win over Iran. It is an upward progression that delights coach Olarenwaju.

“It’s a good thing, we are happy for him. He’s a quality player and very hardworking lad. With his quality, he’s going to be part of the national team for long time,” Olarenwaju told Footy Africa.

He then revealed how the switch happened.

“He started his career as a defensive midfielder, and we converted him to a centre-back.

“In fact, it was Finidi who first suggested that we should consider playing Chibuike at centre-back because of his pace and ball-winning ability. We were in the office that day when he mentioned it. So, when he travelled to camp with the Super Eagles, I decided to try Chibuike in that position, and the rest is history.”

The decision was not an easy one at first. Even within the club, many were unsure about the change. But Nwaiwu quickly proved he could handle the role.

“When we made that decision at Enyimba, everyone was surprised, including other coaches,” Olarenwaju said. “He started an FA Cup game against Abia Warriors and delivered a solid performance. We played him in that position again in the next match, and he impressed once more. From then on, we kept him there for the rest of the season.”

Olarenwaju also pointed at energy management as a key reason behind the switch.

“When he travelled to Austria for trials, he asked me about his best position. I told him he could achieve greater success as a centre-back because he tends to get exhausted in midfield,” he said.

“He’s a natural runner and battler, so around the 60th or 70th minute, he would begin to lose intensity, and we’d have to substitute him. I advised him to focus on centre-back, where he could manage his energy better and perform effectively for the full 90 minutes.”

Nwaiwu: From bold decision to Super Eagles debut

That early decision has now shaped Nwaiwu’s career in a big way.

His steady progress took him from Enyimba to Europe, first with Wolfsberger AC in Austria and then to Trabzonspor, where he has continued to grow. The biggest moment so far came in Antalya, where he made his Super Eagles debut in Nigeria’s 2-1 friendly win over Iran.

Drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Calvin Bassey, Nwaiwu came off the bench and played his part in the victory.

After the match, he described the experience as special.

“It’s a privilege,” he said, calling it the fulfilment of a long-standing dream that started during his days in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

For Olarenwaju, this moment is proof that the early decision to move him into defence was the right one.

“He’s very strong in the air and one of the best in one-on-one situations,” he said. “I’m glad we converted him to a centre-back, and today he’s benefiting from that decision. We hope he continues to improve. We spoke today, and I told him not to rest on his laurels because the journey is still long. We want to see him move to an even bigger league, like the Premier League or Spain’s La Liga.”

Nwaiwu will look to add to his first cap when Nigeria take on Jordan on Tuesday in their second and final friendly of this international window. A win for the Super Eagles will see Eric Chelle’s men lift their second silverware in 10 months, having lifted the Unity Cup in London last May.