The return of John Obi Mikel to the Super Eagles fold ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations could see coach Gernot Rohr play Alex Iwobi on the flank with Mikel retaining his role as the number ten of the team.
Iwobi played the playmaker role for Nigeria during the qualifiers for the AFCON 2019 Qualifiers to good effect in the absence of Mikel who took a break from the team after their failure to go past the group stage of the World Cup in Russia.
However the return of Mikel for the 2019 AFCON could see Iwobi move back to the flank where he usually operates at Arsenal and also for Nigeria when Mikel is in the team.
Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West is however of the opinion that Rohr should play Mikel as the defensive midfielder of the team and allow the energetic Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi play far up the pitch.
” Iwobi should remain as the number ten of team with Ndidi behind him and Mikel as the defensive midfielder. Mikel brings stability but he sometimes fail to pick his pass on time due to his lack of pace, something the duo of Ndidi and Iwobi have”, West said.
” Ndidi is very mobile same as Iwobi but Mikel has the brain and experience that the team need plus he ended the season on a high with Middlesbrough. He should play as the defensive midfielder of the team”.
