The senior national team of Nigeria will line up in a 3-4-3 formation when they take on Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations like we first reported three days ago.
Coach Jose Peseiro kept faith in Stanley Nwabali in goal with back three of William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey. Ekong will play centrally while Ajayi and Bassey will occupy the right and left centre back spot respectively.
In the midfield is where the formation becomes a bit complex with the two wingbacks in Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi switching from their role as ring and left wingbacks to team up with the duo of Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka, who will play as the two men in the middle.
Onyeka per what we gathered is the deepest of the duo, with Iwobi playing a bit closer to Ademola Lookman who will occasionally play as part of a two man attack with Victor Osimhen, a role that is similar to what he plays for his Serie A side Atalanta to good effect. But he will mainly operate from the left.
Samuel Chukwueze will play on the right side of the three man attack.
Starting XI
Stanley Nwabali
Ola Aina
Zaidu Sanusi
William Troost-Ekong
Semi Ajayi
Calvin Bassey
Ademola Lookman
Alex Iwobi
Victor Osimhen
Frank Onyeka
Samuel Chukwueze
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
