CAIRO, July 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – He signed for Chelsea before the likes of
Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill, but seven years after his
arrival Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo has yet to make a first-team appearance for
the Premier League giants.
It’s unlikely the 25-year-old centre-back ever will run out at Stamford
Bridge although Omeruo is establishing himself as one of the continent’s
premier defenders at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
He is one of three survivors — alongside John Obi Mikel and Ahmed Musa —
from the Super Eagles squad that won the title in 2013, when a teenaged
Omeruo started five of six games including the 1-0 win over surprise
finalists Burkina Faso.
After failing to qualify for the two subsequent editions, Nigeria’s return
to the event has been plagued by a dispute over unpaid bonuses that resulted
in a brief training strike after an opening 1-0 defeat of Burundi.
Arrest warrants have also since been ordered for the country’s top
football officials after they failed to appear in court as part of an ongoing
corruption case, but Omeruo is keen to put such distractions to one side.
“We knew no matter what was going on behind, our job is to play and
Nigerians are hoping that we win every game so we knew we had to forget every
other thing and … be the first to qualify from our group,” Omeruo said
after his header in a 1-0 victory over Guinea secured qualification for the
last 16.
“It’s important to stay focused, we have a wonderful squad. I’ve been out
for a while and they’ve been playing and they’ve been doing good. It doesn’t
matter who plays we have a strong defence, it showed (against Guinea) and I
just want to give my best.”
– Spanish opportunity –
It was a shock 2-0 loss to Madagascar that left Nigeria facing a
blockbuster showdown with holders Cameroon that highlighted Omeruo’s
importance to Gernot Rohr’s side.
He was rested by the German for the final group game in which Nigeria
gifted Madagascar an early goal and never recovered. The defeat placed the
Super Eagles on a potential collision course with Egypt, should they overcome
five-time champions Cameroon.
Omeruo’s impact is remarkable given a succession of loan spells away from
Chelsea, the latest of which took him to Leganes in Spain where he was a
regular under former Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino.
Following his 2012 transfer from Standard Liege, Omeruo has also spent
time in the Netherlands and Turkey either side of an 18-month stint with
Middlesbrough in the English second division.
“The opportunity to play against the best players in the world is massive
for my career,” Omeruo told BBC Sport of his time in La Liga.
“I’ve been playing away from England in Turkey for a while and every time
I always craved for a visible league where people can watch me.
“Luckily, after the World Cup where I had two good games, I got more
options and I chose La Liga where everyone can watch me, and so far it’s been
a perfect decision for me.”
With Nigeria team-mate Ola Aina completing a permanent switch from Chelsea
to Torino this summer and Tomas Kalas, the Blues’ longest-serving player,
moving on after just four appearances in nine years, Omeruo is keen to follow
suit.
“I deserve stability in my career as a footballer. Leganes and Spanish
football provides me with the continuity and right environment for career
growth.”