Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface will lead Super Eagles’ attack in tonight’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
Boniface is selected ahead of the duo of Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi.
The striker will be supported in attack by wingers Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze.
Read Also:Nigeria Vs Benin Republic Live Blogging – AFCON 2025 Qualifier; Group D Matchday 1
Captain William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi will occupy the three-man central defence.
Nottingham Forest star Ola Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi will feature as wing-backs.
Wilfred Ndidi, who plays for Premier League club Leicester City and Alex Iwobi will take charge of the midfield.
Super Eagles X1 Vs Benin Republic
Nwabali
William Troost-Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey
Aina, Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyemaechi
Chukwueze Lookman, Boniface
By Adeboye Amosu
8 Comments
Chukwueze hardly does well when he starts game both club and national team.. I remember he starting in the final against civ and was completely neutralized while moses Simon has proven to be a better starter for both club and country with him recently voted as club player of the month..
I remember in eguavon last match against Ghana he also started Simon from the bench and we paid dearly for it.. it seems this man doesn’t learn his lessons.. something tells me chukwueze does so well in training but I can’t remember when last he played well starting a game…
Wishing them well and hope they impressed Nigeria this time
Chukwueze had a highly productive and memorable outcome in his last 2 games under Finidi, perhaps his best games for the Super Eagles in a while.
I think Eguavoen has learnt his lessons o by electing for 5 defenders against Benin! What if we were playing Brazil??
Wonders shall never end!
So, after Odegbami and many Super Eagles stakeholders condemned Jose Peseiro for playing 5 defenders and a very thin midfield, Eguavoen too has elected to err on the side of defensive caution!! Hahaha!
Eguavoen wants this job full time o! He is taking no chances having seen how a more attacking minded Finidi George was, humbled, put down and a peg or two and put in his place by Gernot Rohr.
Nice one Eguavoen. This shows me that you have learnt a lot from your failure, Peseiro’s success and Finidi’s failure to elect for a cautious 5-4-1 formation (when the team is defending) and 3-4-3 rendition in attack.
Let’s see how it plays out.
I don’t know which lesson you think Eguavoen has learnt. Even before starting the match, Eguavoen has conceded the midfield to Rohr. you have only 2 midfielders – Ndidi and Iwobi. Now only Ndidi will do defensive work because Iwobi is not going to defend anything. This is for sure. Again you have a Chukweze who is not going to offer you anything in terms of defending. Don’t you think Nigeria already have a problem on her hands even before starting the match.
If Lookman decides to also not defend and even plays selfish as he has shown lately that he has the tendency to do, then, you know it may be a long day for Nigeria because I’m seeing a situation where Boniface is going to be isolated upfront.
With this kind of players selection, you’re looking at a situation where super eagles will be attempting to bypass the midfield and playing straight from defense to attack. I don’t think this is a wise approach.
My take though!
Why chukwueze for crying out loud, is moses Simon injured?
I don’t know which lesson you think Eguavoen has learnt. Even before starting the match, Eguavoen has conceded the midfield to Rohr. you have only 2 midfielders – Ndidi and Iwobi. Now only Ndidi will do defensive work because Iwobi is not going to defend anything. This is for sure. Again you have a Chukweze who is not going to offer you anything in terms of defending. Don’t you think Nigeria already have a problem on her hands even before starting the match.
If Lookman decides to also not defend and even plays selfish as he has shown lately that he has the tendency to do, then, you know it may be a long day for Nigeria because I’m seeing a situation where Boniface is going to be isolated upfront.
With this kind of players selection, you’re looking at a situation where super eagles will be attempting to bypass the midfield and playing straight from defense to attack. I don’t think this is a wise approach.
For me it shouldve been Yusuf for Ndidi and Simon for Chukwueze bcus Ndidi and chucksnare the only weak link but lets hope for the very best.
For me it shouldve been Yusuf for Ndidi and Simon for Chukwueze bcus Ndidi and chucks are the only weak link but lets hope for the very best.