Nigerian CB, Chidozie Awaziem has enjoyed a great start to life at French club Nantes.
The versatile defender joined the Ligue 1 side this summer from Colorado Rapids and has quickly established himself as one of the team’s most vital players.
Awaziem has featured in every game this season, playing every single minute ,a testament to his importance in the squad.
Following his arrival, head coach Luis Manuel Ferreira De Castro praised Awaziem.
“He’s a tall central defender, strong in duels, fast, and very good in the air. He has matured a lot since his first time here. He’s not technically clumsy, and his ball recovery ability is a real asset. His experience will bring a lot to the team.”
So far, Awaziem has proven his coach right. He has completed 281 successful passes, an outstanding figure for a player in a team that often plays on the back foot.
His 22 accurate long balls demonstrate his ability to follow tactical instructions, especially considering long deliveries are a crucial element of De Castro’s counter-attacking philosophy.
Awaziem has also recorded a 100% dribble success rate and has won three fouls, helping his team earn set-piece opportunities.
Defensively, he has impressed in all aspects of his role. Awaziem has won two tackles and has been dominant both on the ground and in the air, boasting a 72% success rate in ground duels and 90% in aerial battles.
He has made two crucial shot blocks that could have led to goals and recorded 18 ball recoveries. Remarkably, he has only been dribbled past twice all season.
His strong performances at club level earned him a call-up to the Nigerian national team for the recent World Cup qualifiers.
Though he didn’t feature in the matches against Rwanda and South Africa, he trained with the squad and was part of the matchday selection.
If Awaziem continues on this upward trajectory, he stands a good chance of earning minutes in the remaining World Cup qualifiers and potentially being included in the Super Eagles squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in December.
