By JACOB AJOM

He is just 26 but hugely gifted with the talent of a footballer and he does well in the art of goalscoring. Emmanuel Emenike led Nigeria’s charge for the 2013 AFCON triumph in South Africa. He emerged the highest goal scorer in the tournament with four goals even when he missed Nigeria’s final two matches.

The 5 feet six inches tall striker was also instrumental to Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup as his brace against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa ensured Nigeria had an easier task in the second leg of the final qualifier in Calabar. Since moving over to Turkey where he pitched tents with Fernabahce early this season, the powerful striker has netted eight goals in sixteen matches thus reinforcing the belief that he could be the redeemer of Nigerian football, particularly as the Eagles are preparing for the World Cup in Brazil this June.

Last week, telecommunication giants, Globacom appointed him their brand ambassador. He was asked if his appointment by Globacom and the general World Cup expectations from  millions of Nigerians  had put him under any pressure

“I am not under any pressure. If anything, the pressure will be on the entire team. It will be shared by all members of the team. I am just one player.”

Emenike sounded modest on his chances in the World Cup bound squad as he said, “I will have to work harder to ensure I make the team to Brazil because Nigeria is blessed with a lot of strikers. A striker’s place is the easiest to replace in Nigeria

He boasted that the Super Eagles will be one of the toughest teams in Brazil, adding, “we have a very good team with excellent players. “We have a very good team,” he said repeatedly, adding, “mind you, there is no small team at the World Cup. We will give equal respect to all our opponents and face them as they come.”

Emenike said he bore no grudge over his inability to make the final three nominees for the Glo-CAF Player of the Year Award. “No such feelings,” he said, pointing out that players like Mikel Obi, Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba were big names in the continent and that  he was just a beginner. “They are all great players. I cannot fault the last three, but I am praying for my team mate, Mikel to win the award.”