Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun says the Nigerian coach, Austine Eguavoen is not presently playing Joe Aribo in his best position at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Balogun, who missed the tournament due to injury, stated this in an Instagram Live video on Monday.
The Rangers star urged Eguavoen to deploy the 25-year-old in the number 10 role for the Super Eagles going forward.
“I have always known he’s a great player, right from the time I started playing with him. He’s in great form this season and he managed to bring that to Nigeria in the last two games,” Balogun said in an Instagram Live video.
“To me, he’s not playing in his best position. If you put him in as a No.10, he will give you more joy because he knows how to take on players, he knows how to delay the play in a way.
“However, I’m happy he’s found a way to bring his form to the national team because I think people have been waiting for long, for him to actually replicate the kind of form he has at club level.
“So, “I’ m actually happy he’s found a way to do it in a different position.”
22 Comments
My Most vocal player in eagles
Thank you
That’s true but Aribo is versatile as a player. I have even seen him play on the wings at Rangers under Steven Gerrard.
Yeah aribo likes to more attacking football. Unrelated news who also finds Franck kessie’s haircut funny, he shouldn’t have had cut his hair
Like to play
Correction likes to play attacking football, and Frank Jessie should have cut his hair
oya oga Eguavon please put him in No 10 position we need his best performance
Aribo Plays number 10 and you are still complaining! In a 442 formation which eguadiola is playing we have only two midfielders, and one is The blocking 4 ndidi and the other is attacking midfielder 10 which is aribo, he can go upfront when its 433 but in 442 iheanacho is best 8 in The team, aribo do go forward when required and also deffends alongside ndidi that is The proper requirement of a number 10 in a 442 formation which we are playing and it is working, aribo is doing masterclass there we are satisfied so far. Enough of all this blabla unnecesary complainings, i will advice iwobi to replace chukueze in The right wing, if we contenue with 442 formation because chukwueze plays well in The 433 formation where Iwobi and osihmen have better understanding with him, i noticed that he doesnt strives well with iheanacho, probably because They both uses left foot and aims four thesame goal of pisitioning and cuttings to The left leg to shoot. Iwobi on his own can deliver better crosses from that right wing and he uses both legs better, he also have better Ball sence than chuks, he have better understanding with iheanacho and aina who is rightback couple with aribo who plays to, aribo iheanacho and chuks are all three left foot men working from a right wing is too much and not The best, i would have surggested for ejuke but ejuke lacks encellent Ball sence compare to iwobi, i know iwobi didnt do very well in The second half against sudan in that wing,! But i believe it was bcos of total lack of concentration of the entire team after 3 0 lead. In the coming matches expecially in The round of 16 I will prefer iwobi ahead of chuks if we keep on 442 formation. Chuks will always struggle with iheanacho and aribo he cant understand The English football sence at list for now. Aina Iwobi and iheanacho will combine better from that right area of our attack.
Balogun is closer to Aribo than the coach and everyone of us, he knows how Aribo brings Rangers stadium to standstill with some outstanding displays week after week. Eguavoen should make Aribo free as he has done to other plays while the midfield is not affected.
He should have called Eguavon or one one of his crews. He should know better man.
I want to see Ejuke on the left Attack, Aribo at No10 and Chukwueze at the right wing Simon Moses should be afforded some rest. Uzoho should also start the 3rd game.
Why didn’t u tell rohr to play him as a 10?,where will iheanacho now play
Hmmmmmmmm thought the said the coach gave them freedom to express themselves. Thanks for saying the truth that whatever he had manage to bring his fine form to national team at the moment so that they can have a rest from saying the way and manner they have been using before is the reason some of the players have not been playing well.
I have observed that misleading headlines on CSN are published without names (reporter). By using flammable headlines, CSN is working really hard to create distraction abd disharmony in this team.
The headline from where this report originated from they suggested otherwise: .
You can see what most people don’t see.God bless.
Please this is not time for experiment
To me I don’t see anything wrong with what Balogun said or how he respectfully said it.A good coach listens to advise no matter where it is coming from , what matters is the result !..the credit will still go to Eguavoen if his suggestions turn out great for Nigeria /Super Eagles ..rest assured that if Eguavoen lift this cup, surely he will be taking us to the world cup !!..unless pinik wants us to turn him to picnic!!!
I think what balogun meant is modern day nos 10. Presently, many coaches do not use more than a single striker. Preferring to move nos 10 close to the lone striker, which is where ihenacho plays now. But the old method of formation they call the position number 8. Therefore, aribo is the number 10 in our present formation.
Alot has change in football. Teams call DM nos 4 but while growing it is known as nos 6.
Playing Aribo as a no ten will kels returns to the Bench which will be very had for Edudiola to swallow cos Iheacho has a high assist and goal scoring threat than Ariball. So let’s maintain the present midfield combo with Aribo given the freedom to to move up and expressed himself more like Tielemens Leicester.
Misleading and atrocious headline. This sounds more like point-blank criticism but the content shows that Balogun was only suggesting a no. 10 role for Aribo, believing that he would do much better in that position. However, Aribo is playing as 10 for the SE at this afcon so far, depending on your interpretation of no. 10
Great player. Very creative, good dribbler and passer. Irrespective of the role eguavon is playing him,I think the most important thing is granding out results. Wishing the super eagles the best & a successful AFCON
Well I can’t say for now but I believe that is the best for him in that position of 10 and I like the way he handle the ball and attacking post he play like jay jay but different from him I believe is now Nigeria attacking midfielder with power and ability
I know everyone has something to say, in this competition, freedom or no freedom, the coach has the final say, n the thing has been doing well so far….in this competition, eguavon understands the player before inviting them from there various clubs, so we have to pray for them….we pry for favour, Good luck supper egales