The youngster has caught the eye after forcing himself into Jose Peseiro's plans, and has been one of the few successes of the season. Would he make a good addition to the U-23 ...
FC Porto's bid to reclaim supremacy in the Primeira Liga appears to have hit the rocks following consecutive losses to basement side Tondela, as well as Pacos Ferreira. Defending champions Benfica sit twelve points clear with five games to play, and are on course for a third-successive title barring an epochal collapse.
The Dragons however hold the bragging rights over the Eagles - whatever that's worth in the grand scheme - having done the double over their arch-rivals. The second of those wins, a 2-1 triumph at Estadion da Luz, also served as a baptism for young Nigerian defender Chidozie Awaziem.
The 19-year-old took the plunge, and emerged bathed in light, earning glowing reviews for his debut with the Porto main squad in the biggest game of the season. His display provided a showcase of his strengths and weaknesses, but the positives far outstrip the negatives where the talented centre-back is concerned.
Snapped up by the Dragons in 2014, Chidozie made 20 appearances with Porto B, who compete in the Portugese second tier. He also featured for the U-19 side in the Uefa Youth League, his sole appearance coming in a victory over Real Madrid.
Injuries to Ivan Marcano and Maicon may have forced the hand of manager Jose Peseiro, but his trust has been repaid manifold. In truth, the centre-back's maturity and physical capabilities mean he does not compare unfavourably to the other options at the club; if anything, his style is such that he is the one player who can seamlessly complement the other members of the Porto backline.
There have been calls for the Nigerian to be introduced into the U-23 side, with the Olympics in Rio just around the corner. These calls are merited: not only is Chidozie good enough, but his abilities perfectly stanch the leakages that have come to characterise teams coached by Samson Siasia.
The 19-year-old's most impressive quality is one that belies youth: the rashness associated with defenders at that age is almost completely absent from his game. Rather than dive in suddenly, he is keen to observe the flow of play, and then nip in to win the ball. As such, he makes a high number of interceptions; this is crucial in a side that plays high up the pitch, as Siasia likes his teams to do.
This calmness carries over into his passing, which is tidy and calm; he's no Beckenbauer, but his distribution is reliable. No doubt, it helps that he was originally a defensive midfielder, and whereas his passing may have been considered limited in that position, it is very good for a centre-back.
A preference for interceptions and neat distribution might suggest an aversion for the more physical aspects of defending, but nothing is farther from the truth. At a 6ft 2in, Chidozie is very rarely bested on aerial duels. In centre-back terms, that's not exactly Goliath-level, but he uses his strength to jockey for a better angle while the ball is in flight, thereby earning an advantage.
Peseiro has been rewarded for his faith in Awaziem
Another factor which makes him perfect for the U-23 side: he is the optimal centre-back for defending in space; he is not lightning-quick, but can more than hold his own in a sprint. His aforementioned strength and patient style are very well-suited to holding up opposing counters, as well as defending in one-on-one situations.
There are, of course, no prizes for guessing that it is not all perfect with the 19-year-old. His positioning remains an area of weakness: being very man-oriented, almost to the point of naivety, he is susceptible to getting drawn out of position somewhat, exposing the team. He could also do with being more communicative, although one assumes it is a quality that will come with age.
Notably, both these deficiencies are easy to remedy in the interim: a more assertive partner at the heart of the defence, serving as a guide and keeping him on the straight and narrow. It is perfectly acceptable to argue this is a lot of collateral for a teenager who has only made a handful of senior club appearances in Europe.
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