When the Super Eagles B lined up against Congo in their final CHAN 2024 Group D match in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, the narrative was already written. Nigeria were out. Pride was all that was left to play for.
But sometimes, football doesn’t follow the script. For 20-year-old Alex Young Oyowah, what looked like a dead rubber became the stage for his debut and his arrival.
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On his very first start for Nigeria, the midfielder delivered a performance so mature and impactful that he walked away with the Man of the Match award in the 2-0 victory. In a campaign defined by frustration, Oyowah turned Nigeria’s farewell into his personal introduction.
A star emerges in defeat’s shadow
The midfielder’s story is rare but not unfamiliar in Nigerian football. From Sunday Mba’s explosion at Afcon 2013 to Ogenyi Onazi’s leap from the youth ranks in 2013, the Super Eagles have often found their next big names in unexpected moments. Oyowah may have just joined that lineage.
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“I feel very proud to have been named Man of the Match in our match against Congo,” Oyowah said, visibly moved after the game.
“This is like two opportunities, one for me and one for Nigeria. This is my first match and our last in the group, and we were able to win.”
For coach Eric Chelle, who has been under scrutiny for Nigeria’s early elimination, the youngster’s performance was a validation of bold selection choices that many had doubted.
Maturity beyond years
What made Oyowah stand out was not just his energy, but his discipline. He executed the tactical blueprint laid out for him with remarkable precision.
“The coach told us to do what we could in the last match against Congo, especially since we had been eliminated. It was necessary for us to win,” he explained.
In a competition where pressure had already undone Nigeria against Sudan and Senegal, Oyowah showed a level head. His reading of the game, ability to retain possession, and fearless ball progression hinted at a player who can anchor midfield battles at higher levels.
Refusing to bow out quietly
Even though Nigeria’s fate had been sealed, Oyowah and his teammates were unwilling to let their CHAN story end in silence.
“We did not want to lose the match despite the elimination,” he said.
“I think the Nigerians feel proud after our victory over Congo. We had nothing to lose. We did not want to lower our heads in this match. The most important thing is that we got the three points in our last match and achieved our first victory in this tournament.”
ALSO READ: CHAN 2024: Nigeria end winless run with 2-0 victory over DR Congo
The Super Eagles B left Tanzania with only one win from three matches, but Oyowah ensured that at least one positive headline followed them home.
Why his breakout matters
For Nigeria, CHAN has always been more than results. It is a platform to unearth and test home-based talent under continental pressure. Oyowah’s emergence is therefore symbolic; a reminder that while structures may falter, individual brilliance can still shine through.
Unlike past editions, where Nigeria’s CHAN campaigns produced established names such as Shehu Abdullahi and Chigozie Agbim (2014) and Ejike Uzoenyi (2018), the 2024 squad lacked household names. Yet in Oyowah, the green-and-white may have discovered a raw talent with the temperament to follow that same trajectory.
What next for Oyowah?
At just 20, his journey is only beginning. To earn a Man of the Match award on debut in a competition known for its physical intensity is no small feat. It signals that Oyowah not only has ability, but also resilience and character.
If nurtured correctly, his rise could extend beyond CHAN into the NPFL (where he has already won a league title with his clubside Remo Stars), and eventually into the full Super Eagles setup. Nigeria’s midfield has been searching for fresh energy in recent years, and Oyowah’s profile, with his discipline, mobility, and unafraid nature, fits the mould.
The bigger picture
Nigeria’s CHAN 2024 campaign will be remembered for its disappointments: costly errors, lack of experience, and a premature exit. But in that gloom, Oyowah provided a spark.
In one night, he shifted the narrative from “Nigeria’s elimination” to “Nigeria’s discovery.”
And sometimes, in tournaments like CHAN, that is just as valuable as lifting a trophy.
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