Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has compared South African international Ime Okon to Nigerian legend Taribo West following the youngster’s impressive displays at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Okon has emerged as one of South Africa’s standout performers in recent months, attracting praise for his composed defending, physical presence and fearless approach against top-level opposition.
The 21-year-old centre-back was eligible to represent Nigeria through his father but ultimately chose to commit his international future to South Africa, a decision that appears to be paying dividends as he continues to enhance his reputation on the global stage.
Speaking about the defender’s qualities, Udeze admitted that Okon’s style of play reminds him of Taribo West, one of Nigeria’s finest defenders and a key member of the country’s golden generation.
According to the former West Bromwich Albion defender, Okon possesses many of the attributes that made West such a formidable presence during his playing days, including aggression, confidence in one-on-one situations and an ability to dominate aerial duels.
West enjoyed an illustrious career with clubs such as Auxerre, Inter Milan and AC Milan, while also helping Nigeria win Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 and featuring at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. His rugged style and colourful hairstyles made him one of African football’s most recognisable defenders.
Okon’s decision to represent South Africa instead of Nigeria has inevitably reignited discussions about the Nigerian Football Federation’s efforts to secure dual-national talents before they are lured elsewhere.
Despite missing out on the defender’s services, Udeze believes Okon has the tools to become one of Africa’s leading centre-backs if he maintains his current development trajectory.
With the World Cup providing a platform for emerging stars to announce themselves to a global audience, the South African defender appears determined to seize the moment and justify the faith shown in him by Bafana Bafana.
