Francis Uzoho has been picked ahead of Daniel Akpeyi for Nigeria’s 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs first leg tie against the Black Stars of Ghana, reports Completesports.com.
With first choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye unavailable due to illness, interim technical adviser Augustine Eguavoen settled for Uzoho ahead of the more experienced Akpeyi.
Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun and Zaidu Sanusi will line up in defence.
Balogun was preferred to Kenneth Omeruo, who paired Troost-Ekong in central defence at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Read Also: 2022 WCQ Playoffs: Super Eagles Will Soar Over Black Stars –Kanu
Innocent Bonke, who was a late replacement for the injured Wilfred Ndidi will play in midfield along with Joe Aribo and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen will lead the attack,while Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze will operate on the flanks.
Super Eagles Line-up Vs Ghana
Uzoho
Aina
Troost-Ekong
Balogun
Sanusi
Bonke
Aribo
Iheanacho
Chukwueze
Simon
Osimhen
By Adeboye Amosu
41 Comments
This means that our starting eleven was long predicted because I saw this line up on virtually all the NigGha websites. Good luck to us Regardless!
Who dey leak starting line up now?
why people no dey like behave well like this.
This guy keeps repeating same mistakes.
Playing away from home you need a double pivot. Iheanacho plays better these days as a pointsman with a runner behind him. He can’t link defence and attack the way ARIBO does.
Nigeria will be THIN in midfield tonight, no doubt.
A double pivot of BONKE/ONYEKA/ETEBO with ARIBO playing as the ATTACKING MIDFIELDER would have suffice.
But what do I know? The coach works closely with them.
Go NIGERIA ….soar like the EAGLE (apologies @AYPHILLYTHEGREAT)
Agreed with you bro but guess Simon and Chukwueze will track back to make a 5 man midfield when defending. Good luck to the Super Eagles!
#Ghanamustfall.
Exactly what I’m thinking.
Either play 3 centre backs, or you play 4 at the back and a midfield 3 of Onyeka, Bonke and Aribo. That’s how to play an away match. Bonke will be overworked in that midfield up against Kudus and Partey.
God help us today. I hope we score 3 goals today, ’cause I don’t trust this defense.
I support you. Ghana is strong in middle. I have always believed iheanacho should stay on the bench. Aribo should play in his position behind oshimen.
Chukwueze has not really done well with eagles. I expect a surprise inclusion of Dennis in his position
Let’s hope for the best.
Thank you, eguaveon is very stubborn and he will cost naija the ticket.
It should have been onyeka and bonke as DM.
The same Mumu formation he used all throughout Afcon
Bro thank you, iheanacho is a short one in that midfield, ghana will dominate the midfield, kudus will ve freedom to run at our defense, playing 433 away against ghana can’t backfire on us. Then again why the nff leaking our lineup, God help us.
Eguaveon doesn’t learn from mistakes. This was exactly what he did against Tunisia and it failed. In fact, it was the main reason why they scored against us.
This is exactly what Eguaveon intends to do and it is sad he has done it before and it failed. Aribo is going to play a double role; attacking and midfield. On paper Ihenacho is the attacking midfielder, but in the match, it will be Aribo that will do that job in addition to the defensive midfield job. This will definitely make us short-playered in the midfield, especially defensive wise. This is because, anytime Aribo switch from defense to offense, we will have only one midfielder, one defensive midfielder
*Aribo is going to play a double role; attacking and defensive midfield.
Eguavoen knows all this the thing is players are assigned roles which some fails to execute leading to goals conceded.
Players are meant to cover for one another like in the case of Aribo going forward but some players fails with roles assigned to them unfortunately.
Am very sure many Nigerians will fall in love with bonke after today’s match
Hmmmm, I have thought of this myself. Iheanacho doesn’t have much involvement in the midfield anytime he plays creative role. The trio of bonke, onyeka and Aribo would have been safer. The did is done let’s wait and see his combination with Osimhen
What is the mistake here. Emotions don’t play football. There are no away goals rule, so we have to be offensive. The coaches have thought about every possible approach before going for this. There is room for 4 subs where the team can be twerked if necessary. We need to use our best to pile pressure on our opponents to force them out of shape which will make them try to regroup each time they get the ball. No matter the formation deployed, players resolve count a lot.
There are away goal rules in CAF
All eyes should be on Ekong, Chukzy and Nacho. I hope these three step-up and overcome there MIA in crucial matches.
Aribo should pls add stamina and strength….we will get enough chances today. Hopefully,we will bury Dem. Balogun and ekong,pls no silly errors. Up naija
Our defense doesn’t give me confidence.. aina and ekong are serial bench warmers for their club.. hope they disappoint me
Garret Bale is a serial bench warmer at his club yet he scored 2 goals yesterday to help Wales reach the final round. Not a bad line up as far as the players are concerned. I’m just worried about the technical bench reaction to adversity. I wish the SuperEagles all the best in Kumasi. #FLY LIKE AN EAGLE INTO VICTORY TODAY#
How did they became bentch warmers? Because they honored their country by attending the nations cup.. They were regulars before the nations cup; they came back suddenly to turn bentch warmers..?! How does this sound?
Na wa o..!
And the rest is history…Aina clothed himself in Glory vs Ghana.
I don’t know why you wanted them to disappoint you.
Ghana is strong in middle. I have always believed iheanacho should stay on the bench. Aribo should play in his position behind oshimen.
Chukwueze has not really done well with eagles. I expect a surprise inclusion of Dennis in his position
Let’s hope for the best.
I predicted this line up yesterday, and I got so perfect…..with the possible substitutes!!!
Uzoho
Ekong
Balogun
Aina
Sanusi
Bonke
Aribo
Simon
Iheanacho ……( Dennis)
Chukwueze ……( Amoo )
Osimhen ….( Ighalo)
Good starting line up.
Calvin Bassey(for Zaidu Sanusi),Ademola Lookman(for Samuel Chukwueze) and Oghenekaro Etebo or Frank Onyeka(for Kelechi Iheanacho) should join the fray in the second half. Odion Ighalo could also be deployed if we are yet to score late in the second half. Goodluck to the Super Eagles
Eguavon.. Is not technically sound. He should have use a double pivot midfielder. Boke and Co. Why aribo should play attacking midfielder.. Iheanacho should have start from bench.
Two red cards already today, pls watch out our super eagles o against ghana.
Africa game filled with red cards.. two already in the Dr congo vs morroco and the Mali vs Tunisia games… Something tells me there could be more..
Am very sure many Nigerians will fall in love with bonke after today’s match
Nigeria should not make the same mistake they made with Tunisia. Wing play is tricky, you wing players must be ready to fall back without the ball. We should not be playing like we are already a goal down from the start of the game. Relax and take it easy. Do not fall into that trap again!!!
Not quite impressed with the line up. Bonke needs another midfielder to always be close to him to receive loose balls won.This is where Etebo could easily have functioned really well. Also Nacho and the wazza dazzler Chuzzy position might clash as they are both left legged players playing most times from the right. Aribo could have done what those two will do, giving us an opportunity to get in one more midfielder. Anyway wetin concern agbero with overloads. CEREZO n crew are in charge and I n I standing firm in support of the entire team.
I was expecting a 3-4-3 formation believing Coach Egu and co have learnt from their past lessons. Play Aina and Zaidu Sanusi on the flanks to cover the defence, midfield and attack. But no o. Na Egg sabi pass.
Hope we come out on top of this one.
Lmao!!! Local coach cronies are now crying that Eguavoen is not technically sound. Yet they will be here to celebrate if the team get a good result Lmao!!! We all know the shortcomings of local coaches after the qualifiers we can continue deliberating about that. For now the WorldCup ticket is non negotiable.
What’s all this talk of a double pivot? Aribo is more defensive than offensive. Eagles were very good at Afcon. I’m sure they’ve learnt from the struggles against Tunisia. Osimhen is far better than Awoniyi. And there are good replacement for Ihenacho such as Lookman and Ighalo which we didn’t have at Afcon.
So,the starting 11 picks itself. No time with 2 or 3 practice sessions to have too many changes. Although I would have preferred Omeruo to Balogun. He is more used to the physical West African football.
I’m sure of one thing. The setup will either be different or be more flexible than at Afcon. Harsh experience and a new head coach in Amunike, who is very highly rated technically.
I and I believe this team is good enough to defeat Ghana. This will be a great match. Heaven bless the Super Eagles starting 11 and all deserving players on the bench.
Any link of TV to watch the match
Any link or TV to watch the match
It will be live on FIFATV on YouTube. Also check on FEED4U. KGod bless Nigeria!!!
Okay, thanks
The Ghanaians are going with 343 formation with Walcott as there goalkeeper. From the blast of the whistle the Nigeria team should attack them. #Good luck guys #Good luck SE
NTA is showing the game. Hesgoal.com
Can we stop this 442 nonsense?