Gernot Rhor did not do the Super Eagles of Nigeria any favours during his botched tenure as national team manager. As an African journeyman coach managing the most popular and passionate footballing nation from Africa, the German was on perpetual experimentation. Coupled with his oft-uncertain tactical set-up, he left the super Eagles with a plethora of good players without a clear-cut system or starters in several positions.
Coach Augustine Eguavoen has decided not to rock the boat too soon and kept with his predecessor’s group of players, but with withdrawals and late arrivals to camp, we dive into the conundrums Cerezo faces in the different areas of the team as they prepare to take on the continent.
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GOALKEEPRS
Simply put, Nigeria does not have a reliable goalkeeper. To add salt to injury, none has successfully claimed the jersey for themselves in the past two years. Francis Uzoho’s long-term injury to curtailed his burgeoning talent and lack of playing time following recovery has not helped. Oge Okoye was favoured by Rohr but he hardly instills confidence in his defence and a club form of just two clean sheets this season is abject. While Daniel Akpeyi plies his trade on the continent in South Africa, he is most experienced at 35 years old and was first choice at Egypt 2019 but only managed clean sheets against lowly ranked opponents Burundi and Guinea. While he has not played a major competitive match for Nigeria in recent months, his five clean sheets in the PSL and experience should mean he gets the nod here.
DEFENCE
This is the only area coach Eguavoen will not have selection headache whether he opts for a three-man or four-man defence. Vice-Captain William Troost-Ekong will lead and should have Kenneth Omuruo beside him in the centre of defence. If the technical crew favours a wingback system, Chidozie Awaziem will complete the trident or slot in at right back if four-man, with Zaidu Sanusi a sure bet at left full back.
MIDFIELD
The question to be answered tomorrow against Egypt is who will partner Wilfred Ndidi in central midfield. The Eagles squad is short of true, all-round midfielders but filled with wingers, meaning the age-long reliance on wing play will continue in Cameroon. However, there must be balance in central midfield and one of Joe Aribo or Chidera Ejuke – if trusted as much as he was praised by Eguavoen in the Lagos press conference – should partner the Leicester stalwart.
ATTACK
As stated earlier the squad is rich in wingers and in the absence of the central prowess of Osimhen, Dennis or Ighalo, the trio that can singlehandedly bulldoze Nigeria through, Taiwo Awoniyi would have to step up. He would have plenty service from the likes of Captain Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi (if he is not made a square peg in a round hole in central midfield), Henry Onyekuru who can also start in the Centre and Moses Simon. It remains to be seen what role Eguavoen has in store for Kelechi Iheanacho in Cameroon, a striker, wing forward or deep-lying playmaker? Whatever it is, his expertise is highly required at AFCON.
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