Can Musa lead the line for Nigeria?

As the Super Eagles head into the post-Keshi era, what role can the CSKA Moscow forward play in the Shaibu Amodu reign and beyond?

FEATURE
By James Ezimoha
Ahmed Musa, who I once described as “a truly paradoxical character” saved Nigerians from a potential high-blood pressure situation with his brace against Sudan in the recent Cup of Nations qualifier. Conversely, Emmanuel Emenike, whose primary responsibility, one can argue, is to score the goals, was, again, absent from the scoresheet.

In this feature, we seek to determine how feasible it is for the CSKA Moscow forward to spearhead the Super Eagles’ attack, hence usurping Emenike as Nigeria’s go-to guy.
Though it is perhaps not the easiest thing to do in the world, it shouldn’t really take much energy to accept when one is proven wrong about a situation or an individual.
Before the make-or-break match against Sudan in Abuja, which Nigeria eventually won 3-1, much of the pre-match ramblings were channeled towards the Fenerbahce forward, who was backed to end his goal drought. He was considered to be the Super Eagles' hope, rather than the somewhat wasteful Ahmed Musa.
And, surprise, surprise, it was the unheralded fellow that stepped up and saved the day with his well-taken brace.
Definitely, there are many others, who, like me, have not been very patient with the former VVV Venlo forward. And perhaps the reason for such overwhelming badgering of the winger-cum-striker is due to his inconsistent displays with the national team, rather than as a result of a lack talent or ability.
For much of his career with Nigeria, Musa has been deployed as an out-and-out winger, saddled with the task of stretching defences and cutting in to provide the killer pass/cross. So far, it’s not been a very fruitful expedition.
What has been working, though, is his striker-esque sense of positioning and timely runs inside the box, and—at least, lately—his calmness and composure to slot the ball into the back of the net. (From 2010 till 2013, Musa scored only five goals, whereas, this year alone, he has four to his name.)
For his first goal against Sudan, he was right on the edge of the box, waiting steadfastly for John Obi Mikel, who was, surprisingly, busy dribbling past four Sudanese players, before releasing the ball to the 22-year old, who skipped over one defender and slotted home to ease nerves.
Where was Emenike?

Have Nigeria lost faith in Emenike?
The second goal took sheer persistence and grit. He rattled the Sudanese defence, who probably forgot how to clear their lines, stole the ball, side-stepped another, and sent the keeper the wrong way.
Where was Emenike?
Those goals, coupled with that of Aaron Samuel, were obviously dedicated to Stephen Keshi, who looked quite lean and forlorn in the dugout, occasionally breaking out the strained smiles—my guess is that he knew what would become of him despite the result.
Anyway, could it just be that Musa is Nigeria’s version of Alexis Sanchez of Chile or Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez of Mexico or, the more illustrious former Italian forward Filippo Inzaghi, who are all goal-poachers in their own rights?
On the basis of this potentially newfound swagger, which is actually refreshing, does Musa embody the ideal proposition to solving Nigeria’s goal-scoring problems?
Well, blame that on Emmanuel Emenike’s goal drought, which, as at the time of writing this report, stands at one year and three days…and counting.
Goal’s Chief Editor Lolade Adewuyi started a campaign on Twitter with the hash-tag ‘#SinceEmenikelastscored’ just before the Sudan game. Since Emenike last scored, Musa has scored two pairs of braces for Nigeria.
His audacious strikes (two) in the 3-2 loss against Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil reminded the world of the potential greatness in the player, who still looks unconvincing at times.

Can Musa find a greater level of consistency?
Surely, if this proposition were to be taken up, Emenike, who seems so out his depths without the supplies from West Bromwich Albion new boy Brown Ideye, (at least, they jelled at the Nations Cup in 2013) would be knocked off the perch as Nigeria’s go-to guy.
The idea of leading the line isn’t one that, in principle, should scare the Russia-based star. However, might a lack of consistency hold him back?
It is a new dawn for Nigerian football. Keshi has been relieved of his duties as manager, and former boss Amodu Shuaibu, whose appointment is a matter for another editorial, installed to take charge of the team for the remainder of the qualifiers: home against South Africa and away to the Republic of Congo.
It is left to be seen if the new manager would spot the killer-instinct in Musa and make the necessary tactical and technical changes to bring out the best in the CSKA Moscow man.
Nonetheless, one thing is certain: the potential is there.
The question is: Can Musa deliver on a more consistent basis if he is handed the responsibility of leading the line for Nigeria?