Lazio youngster Ogenyi Onazi has vowed to fight for a place on the final squad to the 2013 AFCON after his Eagles debut against Liberia.
The versatile midfielder came on for the last 10 minutes in a 6-1 trouncing of the Lone Star in Calabar on Saturday and he said he will also give it his best shot to be on the final squad to South Africa in January.
?As a defensive midfielder, he faces a strong field that includes Mikel Obi, Obiora Nwankwo, Joel Obi, Fengor Ogude and Gabriel Reuben.
“I am a fighter and I will fight for a place if given the chance,” he told MTNFootball.com
“The competition would get stiffer now that we have qualified for the Nations Cup because I know there are a lot of other Nigerian players who are itching to be on the team.
“I am very glad that the coach gave me a chance (against Liberia) even though I knew that I would come on in the second half.
“The competition for places in the Eagles considering that it was my first time on the team I must confess is a healthy one and very encouraging.”
Onazi, who has broken into the Lazio first team this season as an offensive midfielder after he shone for the youth team, has also featured for the country’s U17 and U20 teams. He missed the cut for last year’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia.?
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