Overlooked Nigerian midfielder sends powerful message to new Super Eagles coach Finidi with another goal

If Finidi George was looking for a new star to build his Super Eagles team around, he may have just found his man in Ibrahim Olawoyin.

The talented 26-year-old midfielder, who plays for Turkish club Rizespor, has been in scintillating form of late, scoring five goals and providing two assists in his last seven matches.

His latest strike came in Rizespor's 3-2 defeat to Besiktas on Friday evening, taking his tally for the season to eight goals and three assists.

Olawoyin's impressive run of form will surely have caught the attention of new Super Eagles coach Finidi, who has been tasked with reviving the national team's fortunes after the failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Despite his exploits, the dynamic midfielder has largely flown under the radar and been ignored by those responsible for picking the Super Eagles team.

More established names like Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi have typically grabbed the headlines and favoured.

However, Olawoyin's recent performances suggest he could be a valuable asset that Finidi cannot afford to overlook.

With his combination of creativity, goal-scoring ability, tireless work rate, and versatility, Olawoyin appears to have all the attributes required to thrive at the international level.

His current rich vein of form will only strengthen his case for a call-up to the Super Eagles squad ahead of the all-important clash against South Africa next month in the FIFA 2026 WCQ.

Finidi will no doubt be keeping a close eye on Olawoyin's progress in the coming weeks as he looks to build a team capable of challenging for major honours.

If the Rizespor star can maintain his impressive standards as he has done in the past weeks, he could soon find himself thrust into the limelight as one of the cornerstones of the new-look Super Eagles.