Josh Maja may currently be enjoying one of the best phases of his club career, but the same cannot be said for his international career.
The 25-year-old, who chose to represent Nigeria’s Super Eagles over England’s Three Lions in 2019, has experienced a less-than-ideal international journey. Specifically, the former Fulham star has not played for the Nigerian team since his brief cameo as a substitute for Victor Osimhen during the 2-2 draw against Ukraine.
This over five-year hiatus from the national team for a once-promising centre forward has drawn attention, and Maja himself has recently expressed disappointment over the trajectory of his international career.
In an interview captured by OwnGoalNigeria, the West Brom forward expressed uncertainty about his future with the Nigerian national team.
Despite his recent form, he believes his chances of receiving a call-up from interim coach Augustine Eguavoen are still slim.
“I don’t know if I’ll get another chance. All I can do is continue performing well for my club, and who knows—another opportunity might arise. But for the game in November, I can’t say whether I’ll be included in the team or not,” Maja stated.
While the likelihood of Maja being named in the Super Eagles squad for the November fixture remains uncertain, it’s worth noting that the 25-year-old has been in stellar form since the start of the new season with West Brom....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
According to data from Fotmob, the striker has achieved an impressive nine goals involvement in 13 appearances for the English Championship side thus far.
Maja currently faces a similar situation to Hoffenheim defender, Kevin Akpogunma, who has continued to be excluded from the Super Eagles squad after switching his international allegiance from Germany to Nigeria.
Sharing his thoughts on the forward’s complaint, Nigerian football expert, Chinedu Emmanuel, in an interview with Legit.ng, detailed that it would be a little difficult for him to make the current crop of the Super Eagles.
“What I can say is this: when you look at our forward options, it’s clear he currently ranks the lowest among them. Playing in the Championship also makes it more challenging for him to stand out.
Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface are our two biggest stars, followed by Paul Onuachu and Taiwo Awoniyi, who are all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Given this strong competition, it will be tough for Josh Maja to secure an invitation to the Super Eagles. The forward line is one of the most competitive areas of the team.”
