West Brom: Nigerian media reacts to ‘Awesome’ Semi Ajayi performance v Sao Tome
West Brom defender Semi Ajayi completed the full 90 minutes for Nigeria in their 6-0 pasting of Sam Tome on Sunday 10 September.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen grabbed a hat-trick as they signed off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a thumping win.
The Super Eagles had drubbed their opponents 10-0 in both teams’ first encounter in the Moroccan city of Agadir in June 2022 meaning Nigeria had already qualified no matter the result on Sunday but Nigerian online outlet Sports Ration (10 September) was wowed by Ajayi’s performance.
The towering West Brom defender was given a match rating of 8.5/10: “Just like Bassey, had little to do defensively. But his passing range was awesome.”
Key Corberan player
Ajayi has become a crucial figure for both club and country over the past six months, and his performance against San Tome showed, but that wasn’t to do with his defensive qualities but indeed his qualities on the ball.
He’s played four of West Brom’s five Championship games so far this campaign and featured in all of Nigeria’s six AFCON qualifying games highlighting just why he’s become such a crucial component for both sides.
And his latest performance showed why he’ll continue to be an excellent and pivotal figure for West Brom this season, recording 53 touches, successfully completing 86% of his 49 passes and completing six of his seven long balls [SofaScore] as he showcased his wonderful progression of the ball.
A tall, athletic, strong and defensively sound centre-back but most of all, an experienced one, Ajayi offers a totally different profile to what Carlos Corberan currently possesses at centre-back, and there’s a case to be made that the Baggies certainly would lose their solidity without the towering defender.
Ajayi is a big-time West Brom performer and just the man to lead the back-line in Dara O’Shea’s absence after his summer exit which means Corberan’s defence is in very capable hands when the Nigerian starts. He’ll be pivotal once again.
In other West Brom news, pundit Carlton Palmer shares a current squad “concern” for Corberan and the three key positions the Spaniard needs to address if he enters the free-agent market.