Completesports.com‘s ADEBOYE AMOSU, who is currently in Garoua, Cameroon covering the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, highlights seven things learned from the Super Eagles’ win against Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday night, January 19, 2022.
The 2-0 win win completed the Super Eagles’ 100 per cent record in the group stage of AFCON 2021, and winning the Group D and earing a Round of 16 berth.
Good Depth of Quality In Super Eagles
Interim manager Austine Eguavoen made eight changes in his line-up for the game against the Wild Dogs of Guinea-Bissau and the Super Eagles still dominated from start to finish. Despite missing top stars like Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo, Emmanuel Dennis, Oghenekaro Etebo and Shehu Abdullahi, Eguavoen has been able to assemble a crack squad for this tournament.
The fringe players showed they can be relied on and they will no doubt play a big role on the Super Eagles further progress in the tournament.
Sadiq Still Not Convincing
Much was expected from Umar Sadiq going into the AFCON 2021 following his superlative displays for Spanish Segunda Division outfit, Almeria, but the 24-year-old is yet to justify his inclusion in the team after three games.
Also Read – Eguavoen: Rohr Deserves Credit For Super Eagles’ Brilliant AFCON Performance
Against Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday, the former AS Roma striker fluffed a good opportunity in the first half after Kelechi Nwakali’s pass put him through on goal. And though he scored the curtain raiser in the game, his performance was not up to scratch.
Uzoho Proves He Is Reliable
Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho may have lost his place to Maduka Okoye, but he proved his class with a good showing against the Baciro Cande’s men. Francis Uzoho produced three top saves in the game to help the Super Eagles kept a clean sheet in that Group D matchday-3 clash.
Uzoho is no doubt a capable number two and he will no doubt keep fighting to reclaim the number one spot.
Simon Grows Stronger As Eagles’ Star Man
Moses Simon is no doubt the star man for Nigeria in the ongoing AFCON 2021. His introduction in the second half lit up the game and he was unlucky not to get his second goal of the tournament.
He will play a big role in anything f from great the Super Eagles may achieve at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Nwakali Shows Glimpses Of His Great Talent
Former youth international, Kelechi Nwakali, started his first game in Cameroon against Guinea-Bissau and put up an above average performance. The midfielder delivered a superb pass to Umar Sadiq in the first half which the latter fluffed.
Although Nwakali fizzled out a bit after the break, he showed he can excel at the international stage.
Troost-Ekong Silences His Critics
William Troost-Ekong deleted his social media accounts last December after suffering abuse from fans following a number of poor performances for Premier League club, Watford. Doubts were also raised over his form going to the 2021 AFCON finals, but the big defender has kept he naysayers quiet with his superlative displays for the Super Eagles in Cameroon.
The centre-back further underlined his return to form by scoring Nigeria’s second goal and claiming the man of the match award.
Super Eagles’ Defence Still Rock-Solid
Despite the change in personnel, the Super Eagles defence still look solid against Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday night. The team conceded just one goal in three games and the defence has looked impregnable in Cameroon.
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COMMENTS
GK- Maduka okoye
( okoye have better Composure than I saw with francis uzoho)
Defenders: Ola Aina, Troost Ekong, Ajayi Samuel, Sanusi Zaidu..
(Ajayi posses a better Recovery/Arial Threat than Kenneth Omeruo, While Sanusi Zaidu kept the backline better than jamiu overlapping which opened spaces at the back and both have not given us the much needed cross from there overlapping runs)
Midfielders: Winifred Ndidi..Joe Aribo, Kelechi Nwakali
( Alex Iwobi would be a fine Substitution for (joeAribo/Nwakali) at this department for game changer)..
Attackers: Moses Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho..
4: 3: 3
Substitution
Peter Olayinka
Samuel Chukwueze
Ahmed Musa
Alex Iwobi
Jamiu Collins
Kenneth Omeruo
O. Ndah
F. Onyeka
Forumites in CSN clamour for Sadiq Umar’s invitation and the NFF yielded to their cry.unfortunately Umar has failed us. It’s not only about go scoring but high pressing, hold up play and movement and Umar doesn’t have any of these. I’m sure for now his SE career as ended until he develops these aspect of his game. In a related development it is note worthy to observe that the Eagles are stronger on the left whr Simon operates.That makes the team predictable. We therefore need Victor back by all means. I’m sure he will be delighted to rescind his decision after watching the way the current Eagles play. A combination of Moses Simon and VM on the left and right is too salivating to ignore. I therefore use to forum to appeal to the NNF to approach VM once again immediately After AFCON .i believe he will surely return this time
I agree completely. We need someone very good like Victor Moses on the right wing to balance the team n make them unpredictable. Samuel Chukwueze would have been ok but I don’t know what is happening to him in this AFCON. NFF should do everything possible to bring back VM or Lukman.
We don’t need the recall of Victor Moses, if we look beyond this Afcon we will see that the right wing isn’t short of personnel we have Emmanuel Dennis, and Akinkunmi Amoo who could replicate what Moses Simon is doing on the left side.
Algeria demolished and out! What happened to Belmadi pls?
Coach Cisse of Senegal is a better coach.
Comoros were almost on their way home, has being handed a lifeline by Algeria. Comoros Island will qualify for knockout stage. What a story
Uzoho that almost dashed GuineaB one goal yesterday. Instead of parrying the ball away properly, he made a mess of the whole thing. If not for one of the defenders who fast enough to intervene before the GB player got to the ball it would have been a goal. Uzoho has been having problems parrying the ball away properly. He has been spilling a lot lately.
Apart from being more confident on the ball, and playing out very well from defence, Ajay is still Ajayi. Aerial duels, there is still problems. positioing, nothing has changed. Timing of tackle, yet to improve.
Nwakali did nothing spectacular. For once, I didn’t see him dribble anybody or locate any of our players with long balls. All his passes were just simple passes which were mostly to the players closet to him
Sadiq, didn’t do so badly that yesterday. His frame made him look awkward on the ball and that was why many fans were not happy with his performance. Personally, I prefer Awoniyi. He Hustles and bustles and doesn’t give our opponents defence, breathing space
Nwakali is a genius of a midfider, he won’t be dribbling like Moses Simon, he is a player of a different profile.
We need to recognize that we are currently playing him out of position, he isn’t a defensive midfielder,his best position is the no 10 role, but we deployed him in a defensive midfield role in partnership with Ndidi.
His long range precision pass to Sadiq making him clear on goal against Guinea Bissau was a demonstration of his uniqueness.The most important of his skill set is perhaps set piece,he is very good with free kicks as well, this unique skill will be needed when the competition gets tough.
All we need to do is to win many free kicks in good positions, and the opponent will almost certainly be punished.
The big thing Nwakali brings to this team is quality set pieces.
Did you see the quality of the corner kicks he took against GB? On one occasion, he placed the ball directly on Ajayi’s head, but unfortunately Ajayi nodded it over the bar. Every time he took a set piece, the GB defense came under duress.
With Nwakali, every set piece we have is an opportunity. I do agree that he is a bit slow, and needs to work on that. But other aspects of his game are quite good.
If Eguavoen elects to play 3 midfielders, I think Nwakali is very much in the picture.
If he plays 2 midfielders, it will likely be Ndidi and Aribo.
My line up against Tunisia would be a 3-4-3 formation:
Okoye/Uzoho
Omeruo…Ekong…Ajayi
Aina…Aribo…Ndidi…Sanusi
Iheanacho…Awoniyi…Simon
Against a team like Tunisia, I would like 3 center backs, just for the extra cover that gives us in defense. Sanusi and Aina are good wing=backs, Ndidi and Aribo in the middle, Iheanacho on the right, Awoniyi leading the line, and man of the moment Simon doing his thing on the left.
With 3 center backs, and Ndidi and Aribo playing in front of them, the wing backs have more freedom to bomb forward, and whip crosses into the box.
This formation in my opinion makes us even harder to beat. I think it is the ideal formation for the knockout rounds.
Eguavoen though seems to prefer 4 defenders. 2 center backs, 2 full backs.
Whichever formation he chooses, we hope for the best.
I hope Awaziem is now match ready. His availability will give Eguavoen more options for the defense.
These your two changes makes sense oo. Ajayi for Omeruo and Kelechi for Chukwueze then Nwakali to complete the midfield trio, it’s an experiment that worth trying. I pray it doesn’t backfire.
As much as the 343 looks good, eguavoen hasnt tried at, atleast not in any game scenario and even in his table soccer he still prefers his 442. Implementing a 343 at this stage will be risky due to timing, I’m not saying it cant be done but its just too risky and the timing isnt right. The team has played a 442 and has only concedes 1 gial, created numerous chances, i would personally reconmend Eguavoen to stick with his original 442 formation and his original starting 11. Believe this, this round of 16 is where Samu will explode, as all eyes will be on Simon, there would be atleast 2 players on him whenever he gets the ball so if 9ja can get the ball to chukwueze, he will most likely be isolated in a 1v1 situation and would wreck havoc. Chukwueze should be unleashed on the Tunisians, Aribo i have a feeling will score in dat match as well. Eguavoen just needs to know that teams going forward will be planning to stop simon and must device a strategy to use that to d team’s advantage, so if they keep simon quiet (god forbid) like we did to Salah, other players like chukwueze, iheanacho, aribo and awoniyi needs to step up. If these guys step up, it will free up simon to eventually put the opposition to d sword. Simon MAY struggle next match (i hope not) but Eguavoen needs to plan for this possibility which am sure he is most likely doing. Just my tot