There will be some major changes in the lineup of the senior national team of Nigeria when they take on Equatorial Guinea in their first game at the Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
The coach is famed for playing a 4-2-4 formation but in the absence of a perfect partner for Victor Osimhen in attack he has switch the set up to a one man attack, with Osimhen flanked by two wingers.
Among the wingers in what will be a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation is Moses Simon who starts on the left with Samuel Chukwueze stationed on the right. Ademola Lookman is expected to drop off the starting lineup for the time in a while.
In the midfield, there is a high chance of Raphael Onyedika starting ahead of Frank Onyeka with Peseiro wanting a midfielder who isn’t eager to venture forward as protection is needed for the back four. The duo of Joe Aribo and Alex Iwobi will be the other players in the middle of the pitch for Nigeria.
In defence, a switch in formation means William Troost-Ekong will likely start alongside the undisputed favourite of the coach in defence Semi Ajayi. Calvin Bassey who has paired Ajayi in the last four games of the team has been majorly deployed as a left back in training.
The decision to move him to left back is due to the lack of sharpness of Zaidu Sanusi, who recently returned from an injury lay off and the coach doesn’t think it makes sense to throw Bruno Onyemaechi into the fray from the start.
Meanwhile, all of the above are subjected to changes after today’s session, where a decision on who will start between Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel at right back is expected to be made.
A 3-4-3 formation will see Aina go in ahead of the Turkish based defender but if they revert to a 4-3-3 then Osayi-Samuel will get the nod.
Ade Emmanuel
