Olympiakos forward Brown Ideye has vowed to produce his club form for the Super Eagles in their Russia 2018 World Cup Group B qualifier against Algeria’s Desert Foxes in Uyo on November 12 and cement his place in the team permanently.
The Greece-based player, who returned to the national team after three years in the international wilderness in April following his invitation by the then Eagles’ caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf for the friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg, is on coach Gernot Rohr’s 24-man list for the Algeria clash.
The 28-year-old West Brom flop laid a pass for Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho to charge in and slot the ball past veteran Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene for Nigeria’s second in their 2-1 defeat of Chipolopolo in their opening Russia 2018 qualifier in Ndola on October 9.
Ideye, who has scored six goals for the Legend in the Greece Super League in six appearances this term to help them to maintain their position at the top of the table on 18 points, says he is going to play his heart out for the Eagles in Uyo.
The South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner says he has no fear over losing his place in the Eagles, given the rising profiles of Premier League attacking duo Iheanacho and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi in the national team.
“I have a good understanding with Iheanacho and Iwobi,” the former Ukraine-based attacker said in an interview with SuperSport on Monday.
“I don’t have any problem with them; I enjoy playing with them.”
Ideye, who emerged as the winner of the Best Goal in the Greek topflight recently, said he was ready to play in any position in the Eagles against the Desert Foxes.
The former Dynamo Kiev star said, “I’m looking forward to the game. I’m ready to play anywhere for the Eagles. I played in different positions under the late Stephen Keshi.”
Ideye, who said he would try his best to score goals in the encounter, maintained the Eagles won’t disappoint against their North African opponents.
He dismissed the potential threat posed by Leicester City attackers Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani to Nigeria’s leadership of the qualifying group, saying the three-time African champions would stop them.
The former France-based striker said, “We know that they have good players but we’ll do everything to beat them.We also have good players.”
