The Super Eagles had almost a full house in Lisbon on Monday night ahead of their international friendly against Portugal with 20 players now in camp.
Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, winger Moses Simon as well as goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Adebayo Adeleye all joined camp on Monday night.
The trio of Francis Uzoho, Cyriel Dessers and Samuel Chukwueze are still being expected in camp.
16 players took part in the team’s first training session on Monday night.
Read Also:Portugal vs Nigeria: Osayi-Samuel Arrives, 16 Players Now In Super Eagles’ Camp
Head coach, Jose Peseiro took charge of the session along his assistants.
The Super Eagles will take on Portugal at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon on Thursday.
The game will kick off at 7:45 pm Nigeria time.
20 Players In camp
Adeleye, Ekong, Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyemaechi, Akpoguma, Etebo, Duru, Dennis, Onuachu, Lookman, Bassey, Aribo, Ebuehi, Onyeka, Moffi, Awaziem, Bright, Simon, Okoye. Expected: Uzoho, Dessers, Chukwueze
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Osimhen is a big miss,in his absence the lorient forward Moffi should lead the line flanked by Simon and Lookman.The trip of Ndidi,Iwobi and Etebo should form a solid midfield.I would go with the quartet of Osayi Samuel,Bruno Onyemaechi,Bassey and Akpoguma/Ekong in the defence.
My line up against Portugal.
Uzoho
Samuel,Onyemaechi,Akpoguma,Bassey.
Etebo,Ndidi,Iwobi
Simon,Lookman
Moffi
However,the gaffer favours a 4-4-2 format which may result to Etebo dropping to the bench and an attacker joining Moffi upfront to form a twin strike force.This system could be dangerous leaving us exposed against a Portuguese side gifted with world class players in that department.
I’m not a coach but I wouldn’t come short in the midfield against a traditional ball playing side like Portugal.If you must play two upfront you must maintain a 3 man midfield with just one winger or play four midfielders without a winger,apparently the wingbacks could play the role of fullbacks and wingers with the two defensive midfielders acting as covers when they power forward.The wingers could come in the second half as the case may be.
Well Peseiro knows better,meanwhile,the 4,4,2 formation is a traditional Portuguese/Brazilian system.Both countries knows how to play in this formation because it is a system they grew up playing from infancy.
But in Nigerian situation it’s alien.We have struggled in this system especially against stronger opponents,and it doesn’t get stronger against a team equipped with world class players like Portugal.
I wish the super eagles good-luck on Thursday and in the future.
The trio of Ndidi**