Chidozie Awaziem is quietly authoring some of the full defensive seasons in French soccer, a marketing campaign that now locations him on the very prime of Ligue 1’s particular person rankings.
Whereas FC Nantes battle via inconsistency and emotional turbulence, the 28-year-old Nigerian has turn out to be the membership’s heartbeat, its stabilising pressure, and in response to latest Opta numbers, the simplest defender in the whole French prime flight.
The numbers behind a defensive Masterclass
Opta, through Tribune Nantaise, experiences that Awaziem has produced 128 profitable defensive actions throughout the opening 12 Ligue 1 matchdays, greater than every other participant within the division.
That tally covers duels received, tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, and the unseen work that retains an ailing workforce alive. No defender in France at present matches each his consistency and sheer quantity of output.
His figures are staggering: 101 clearances, comfortably essentially the most within the league, forward of Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell and Good’s Antoine Mendy, a defensive workload few in France, or Europe, can match this season.
At Nantes, supervisor Luis Castro has relied on just one participant extra usually than Awaziem this season: membership captain Kelvin Amian. For a facet nonetheless looking for id and rhythm, the Nigerian has turn out to be nothing in need of a life raft.
Management in a workforce looking for it
Stat sheets inform solely half the story. Awaziem has additionally stepped into a vital management function alongside 17-year-old centre-back Tylel Tati.
His studying of the sport, positional calm, and decision-making have given Nantes their uncommon moments of management in a season outlined by chaos.
He has turn out to be the veteran presence shielding a teenage companion, anchoring a facet that concedes territory far too simply.
For a defender as soon as tagged as “unfulfilled potential,” this can be a renaissance constructed on grit and progress.
AFCON calling? Awaziem’s Nationwide-Staff puzzle
On present type, Awaziem needs to be strolling straight into the Tremendous Eagles’ XI. As an alternative, he finds himself preventing from the fringes.
Initially overlooked of Eric Chelle’s squad, the previous FC Porto and Leganés man earned a recall for the World Cup playoff clashes in opposition to Gabon and DR Congo. He got here off the bench in each video games, and reminded everybody of his worth with an help for Victor Osimhen within the 4–1 win over Gabon.
With AFCON solely weeks away, the timing of Awaziem’s resurgence couldn’t be higher.
Nigeria’s defensive dilemma
Accidents have opened the door. Most notably: Ola Aina is about to overlook AFCON, making a emptiness at right-back. The centre-back positions stay extremely aggressive: William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Benjamin Fredrick. Vibrant Osayi-Samuel leads the race at right-back—however lacks depth behind him.
Awaziem’s versatility; in a position to play each centre-back and right-back at a excessive degree, all of the sudden turns into golden. And his Ligue 1 dominance provides Chelle a uncommon alternative: a defender in prime type, hardened by high-intensity European competitors, and prepared for a continental stage he has not commanded in years.
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A defender reborn, A legacy rewritten
From Porto’s academy marvel to journeyman throughout Turkey, Spain, Croatia, and Portugal, Awaziem’s profession has travelled a winding street. However this season in Nantes could also be his defining chapter.
He isn’t simply accumulating numbers, he’s shaping a repute. The Nigerian on the prime of Ligue 1’s defensive charts. The veteran guiding a youngster. The perimeter worldwide knocking loudly on AFCON’s door.
If he maintains this degree till the event begins, Chidozie Awaziem might pressure his method again into the Tremendous Eagles’ beginning XI, not via sentiment, however via simple dominance.
A defender as soon as neglected is now unattainable to disregard.
