Striker Joseph Akpala raised many an eyebrow when he was selected into the Nigeria team that represented Africa at the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.
This was because the 27-year-old had played just one league game for German club, Werder Bremen in the 2012/13 Bundesliga season.
He was ignored by head coach, Stephen Keshi in Nigeria’s opening game of the tournament against Tahiti but came on for the final 17 minutes of the second preliminary game against Uruguay on June 20.
Four days later, he had a chance to impress against world champions, Spain at the Estádio Governador Plácido Aderaldo Castelo, Fortaleza.
He failed to shine in Nigeria’s 0-3 defeat despite being given the nod by Keshi to start the game and was eventually substituted after 71 minutes with unheralded Kano Pillars striker, Gambo Mohammed taking his place.
The forward seems to have picked up the pieces and has been doing impressive things at Turkish Süper Lig club, Karabukspor where he has scored three league goals this season.
He netted the winner on Sunday against Kayserispor in atrocious conditions as he controlled brilliantly with his chest to leave a defender for dead before dispatching expertly past Gokhan Degirmenci.
He had scored earlier this season in the league against Akhisar Belediye and Galatasaray to add to his double in the Turkish Cup against Manavgat Evrensekispor on October 30.
Keshi exclusively told supersport.com in November that he will be looking at Nigerian players all over the world as he looks to select the strongest possible side for the 2014 Fifa World Cup finals.
“Nobody is certain to go to the World Cup yet. Even my captain, Vincent will be dropped if he’s not giving me what I want. I will be looking at all players wherever they may be playing. If they are better than the ones I have now, I will bring them in,” he said.
Akpala’s return to form and more importantly, consistency after the winter break may yet again spark off another shock recall for the languid forward.
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