Nigeria defender Shehu Abdullahi has dismissed reports he is a doubt for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations due to injury, reports Completesports.com.
Abdullahi was replaced by Paris Psaltis in Omonia Nicosia’s 4-2 defeat to city rivals APOEL on boxing day after sustaining an injury.
There were fears the versatile defender could miss out on representing Nigeria at the AFCON finals in Cameroon.
The Kano Pillars star however stated that the injury is not serious.
“It was not a serious injury, I just had a knock on my left thigh but I am fine,” Shehu assured.
Read Also: Pogba, Conte Ruled Out Of 2021 AFCON Over Injuries
“The substitution was just precautionary.”
He further reported he will join the Eagles camp in Abuja this week.
“I will be in Nigeria tomorrow (Tuesday) and get set for the camp proper,” he said.
“It’s always a good feeling to be called up by your nation.
“I am always honoured to play and represent Nigeria and I can’t wait to see the guys again.”
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COMMENTS
I pray you get injured.
Damnn even tho I dont support his inclusion it is not good to wish an athlete injury. This is the means by which they support their families apart from national assignments. So brother chill
Woa, that’s way too bad. I didn’t also support his inclusion however, I don’t pray he gets injure.
I feel his inclusion in the team is not base on merit but even at that wishing him injury is like someone wishing that your source of income get burnt by raging fire and you remain broke for life. Choose your words wisely.
This is another Garuba Lawal of our time!!!! His usefulness was never understood under Bonfere Jo or Westerhoff…! I could still remember. But his utitlity was very vital in doing the dirty job in fixing every mess on the field of play…. Bravo Shehu!!!!
Lies he’s not close to lawal this guy is just a political asset and even this his injury talk was just a trending ploy to make him Trend. I won’t wish him injury or anything bad but God go catch them at the gate of Judgement for denying hardworking talented people their rewards.
Amen
No comparison bro. Thats an insult to Chindo. Garba Lawal played in Holland for Roda for years. That’s a top league in a top nation that has played in 3 world cup final matches.
Shehu plays in CYPRUS, a nation that has never played one single game in an EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP!
People talk utility as if JOEL OBI is not a utility player. If it must be an HAUSA quota, why not USMAN MOHAMMED in Israel? Why not ALHASSAN MUHAMMED in Belgium?
Ndidi our best DM has been suffering niggling injuries of late. The only notable DM in that squad is Onyeka. Why not another quality DM like Usman, Alhassan, Nwobodo, Joel Obi or Dele Tom-Bashiru (since playing in Div 2 is no longer an issue)???
The other position Shehu can play (RB) is well stocked; Aina, Ebuehi, Awaziem, Akpoguma, Balogun, Omeruo all can play in that position. But vested interests ensured Ebuehi, Alhassan and Akpoguma are sacrificed for mediocres like SHEHU. If he’s that good, he wont be playing in Cyprus.
@Godswill . Lol
When are we seeing photos of the Super Eagles camp, Nff and CSN???
Bro, why don’t you take a break and let a better qualified defenders take your place in the team. We’ve quality players like Akpoguma, Bassey, Ebuhehi, Izuchukwu left out in the team just to accommodate you, Collins, injured Balogun and the defender from Orlando pirates.
This is good news.
We need all our vastly experienced legs fit and flying for the Afcon. Shehu Abdullahi has effective defence techniques and is supremely versatile. He has also been around forever having been part of the exciting 2014 Super Eagles Chan squad and the 2016 impressive bronze winning Olympics team.
He is positionally astute and plays with a calm head. I hope he stays fit for Afcon hostilities. He is not entirely sophisticated and stylish in the dispensation of his duties but he does the basics very well and is very sturdy. You either love him or loathe his style, many fans do the latter but they can take it or leave it: Shehu is part of the Afcon squad as a fringe player and will do a decent job if and when called upon.
@Hon Deo so would you prefer Shehu to Bassey or Izuchukwu? Tired of laughing at all this praises you give to Shehu the brainwashing enter you be that o. Pray make Mane no catch Shehu for Night we see experience!!!
My Dearest Chima, thanks for your text. To be honest, I am trying to shy away from debating who and who is included or excluded from Nigeria’s Afcon Squad. In another piece, I already paid my homage and respect to players who were excluded. For me, that is that and I have moved on.
As regards Shehu, I genuinely don’t expect him to be a major player in Cameroon. The likes of Aina, Collins, Awaziem and Zaidu seem to me to be ahead of Shehu in Eguavoen’s pecking order ( I stand to be corrected though as you never know the real intentions of these coaches).
But as a fringe bit-part player, I think Shehu can help shore up the defence and keep things tight if called upon.
I wish the team good luck!
Yes Boss much Respect, we have been waiting for your summary of the Afcon. I call it sacrifice Afcon because Pinnick has wasted his last opportunity to save Nigerian football from the evils hands by hiring the good, the bad and ugly as coaches and assistant coaches. Everything is just crazy and how Nigerians forget about Aigbodun and Alloy Agu or Ighalo allowing him back to eagles when we have Dennis and Dessers to compliment Osimhen in the Super eagles attack with Iheanacho assisting… That is a striking partnership of Europa league, Italian league and EPL. Nigerians are still silent at the mist of all this red flags and hoping for a shock. Na we go shock ourselves las las for expecting top much.
I am really hurt at the absence of Dressers and the choice of assistant coaches in the super eagles. I don’t expect them to come first, I predict them Bronze again. Senegal,Morocco and Algeria will be blowing hot!!!
I agree with you my brother. This team does not look capable of going past the semi finals at best except for a miracle. Coaches like Aigbogun and Alloy Agu have no business in a serious set or consortium of coaches. Also, Cyreil Dessers, Akinkunmi Amoo and goal keeper Adeleye who is based in Israel should have been brought in for the ineffective Enyimba goalkeeper in the team and the other keeper based in South Africa.
Everything is strange even Anthony Izuchukwu was never invited I doubt if they have scouted this players because that guy is too good to be left out in the cold. Bassey shock me as well. What is wrong with us and alot of us are quit saying we should not distract the team. We are the voice speaking against injustice and must not be forced to keep quiet.
i will have to use hammer to scatter his kneels lol, please Shehu we don’t need you. go and nurse your injury.
Ah! You are not injured? It is well o. But don’t you think you need to use this period to rest so you can be more effective for your clubside? You don’t really have to go for the AFCON as we have capable players that can take your place. Please Shehu, get some rest ehn, so that players that don’t really need to rest like Ebuehi, Bassey or Akpoguma can take your place. May God bless you as you comply
Ahahaha. This is quite funny oooo. Ah, 9ja people, I hail you ooo lol.
Nobody can deny Ebuehi if it is in the will of God that Ebuehi will be in Cameroon likewise Dessers.
Something is fishy about the final Afcon list. In one word, “corruption” period. Blame nobody but Amaju and Eguavoen. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
I thought eguavoen was Mr no nonsense? I though he was an honest man despite how you lambasted him and called him new after our friendly against Mexico? A proposed list of 40 was never released and suddenly, we get to see an unknown player, ndah, getting picked ahead of others. One would think maybe ndah gets to make team of the week and all that, but no. If Rohr invited an uncapped player whose name was never mentioned before, you would say his into bribe
I’m happy you(omo9ja) said 3 weeks is enough time for a coach to instill his tactics and eguavoen is a master tactician. I’m glad that a ‘poor novice’ like Rohr was able to come 3rd in a competition of 32 teams, no more 16 teams. Since eguavoen is miles ahead of Rohr, it has to be the gold and nothing more. Rohr never had any experience of coaching Nigeria before but Mr no nonsense has coached us before, and even handled our cadet teams.
I’m still yet to understand the criteria used in picking ndah. I’m yet to see eguavoen get slated for picking ighalo, Musa, Shehu, noble and ekong as Rohr was always crucified for that.
Rohr always had his players report early to camp and I pray the players maintain such discipline
Super eagles for gold or nothing else
Don’t be biased @Dennis. You former Oga Rohr followers still have mouth to talk? If Oga Rohr failed to win Gold medals at the last Afcon that he was fully prepared for and for you government officials expecting Mr. No nonsense to win the Afcon trophy in Cameroon in just two weeks? That should tell you all that the superiority of Eguavoen can’t be compared to our former world class coach Oga Rohr.
Chai. Having said that, I told you all that I don’t support any coach blindly. I am supporting anything good about Nigeria. That Afcon list is fishy.
Look young man, I can guarantee you that you will watch total football in Cameroon under the tutor of Eguavoen. That is 100% assurance but what I was pointing out up there should be more clearer to you.
Dessers is in deep form of his life at the moment but Amaju and Eguavoen dented his hope of representing Nigeria. Kanu also did an interview with Dessers and he said to Dessers that he watched his video clips and Dessers is one of the best strikers in world. So, why we are not seeing that Dessers name on the list instead, Ighalo took his place and you are expecting me not to ask coach Eguavoen and Amaju/NFF. Are you joking?
I don’t do like you former Oga Rohr followers. Good or bad, you must followed Oga Rohr but for me, I call a spade a spade no matter what. Hmm. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
@omo9ja you keep sounding like Rohr took over a title winning squad. Rohr took charge when we were at our lowest point. The nations cup had just been expanded to 32 teams. He eventually came 3rd and lost to eventual winners, Algeria. Now, you dare speak about bias? You must be drunk. You said with the crop of players, any coach who takes over from Rohr can win the AFCON. someone has taken over and you must stand by your word
You said we will see total football. No problem. Total football must give us the trophy. Rohr played ‘rubbish’football and came 3rd, that means total football must give us the cup. You clamoured for Dennis, awoniyi, umar, nwakali. These players have all made it so that should put your mind at ease. We all saw total football against Mexico with eguavoen. I hope you recall your comments against eguavoen after that match?
Since eguavoen is miles ahead of Rohr, his performance in the AFCON must be miles ahead of what Rohr did
Pls sir, could you tell us the criteria ROHR used in inviting a bench warming NOBLE even against OLORUNLEKE that is keeping gim on the brnch?.
What about IKENNA EZENWA? Who took him to WC 2018 and WC 2019 even when he was sitting on HEARTLAND’s bench?
My dear, it was the almighty ROHR who set the precedence.
Btw, I am not holding brief for EGUAVOEN and his cohorts.
I have always maintained on this forum that a coachless SE with the right selection of in form players WILL always MAKE the SEMI FINALS of every AFCON!
The talent is there
The pool of players is there
Its JUST like the EUROS…barring one or two hiccups, GERMANY, ITALY and FRANCE will always make the SEMIS
Rohr never fancied inviting players who play in our league. Even the ones who are regular. How on earth do you think he’ll suddenly invite a bench warmer from the same league. One cannot be blind to see that noble was forced on Rohr. Rohr has left and noble still gets invited. Why wasn’t he dropped. You think Rohr is the issue right? Wherever we are as per rankings,rohr put us there. All what we want is for Mr no nonsense, Mr total football to take us higher than Rohr did. Is that too much to ask?
Omo9ja,
I hope you’re not trying to change Eguavoen’s name from MR. NO NONSENSE to Mr. NO SENSE!
Yesterday he was Mr. No Nonsense, today you accuse him of eating the sweet dodo of corruption.
Shebi this is what you wanted? Now that “YOUR OWN” is there, and the evil white man is gone, why are you not satisfied?
YOUR TRUE NATURE KEEPS EMERGING.
When Rohr was there, na so so complain full your mouth. Now, “YOUR OWN” is there, you are back to complaining again!
Even if Amunike, Egbo and others you were clamoring for are hired, you will eventually start complaining about them too.
No matter who ends up on the hotseat, Omo9ja will surely complain.
Continue!
Omo9ja is a clown. Prior to the list being released, last week he said if we fail to do well in the AFCON, we should hold Rohr responsible for not bringing in awoniyi, umar, dessers, nwakali etc into the super eagles on time. He said if we fail to invite most of the listed players above, we should blame Rohr for failure at the afcon. Yesterday, he said he was shocked at the list and this list is from amaju and not Mr no nonsense. He said he was disappointed in Mr no nonsense and that the list reeks of bribery and corruption. This is the same ‘Mr no nonsense’ that omo9ja called corrupt, eating dodo with corrupt NFF officials and bereft of ideas when Mr no nonsense coached us in that embarrassing defeat against Mexico. However, upon appointment, eguavoen became a saint, master tactician and a stickler for discipline and orderliness. All these were said to spite Rohr. Now with each passing day, omo9ja is trying to distant himself from eguavoen because he probably feels we will perform poorly at the AFCON.
Omo9ja, I bookmarked that thread that you commented on when Rohr was sacked and everything you said. I bookmarked the page where you claimed that CAR and Cape Verde coach are tactically better than Rohr, that any coach can win the nations cup with the current crop of players we have. You said, any coach but Rohr. I have bookmarked it and will be hoping and praying to see that all eguavoen’s tactics gets us the cup. I recall how eyou said every super eagles win was down to individual brilliance while every loss was down to the coach. I hope we do not lose any match since we will be coached by Mr no nonsense. Omo9ja, I’m ready for you
@Pompei, I hope you still remember the proverb of elders that says “Agba kin waloja ki ori omo tuntun wo”?
Why are we seeing Ighalo, Akpeyi, John Noble and Shehu on that list if I may ask? Why NFF, Amaju and Eguavoen left out our best players like Dessers, Ebuehi and Adeleye on the final list?
Oh o ohhhh. You can see now that ori omo tutun ti wo since 1960.
However, “Omo9ja,
I hope you’re not trying to change Eguavoen’s name from MR. NO NONSENSE to Mr. NO SENSE”!
No not at all sir. You see my lovely friend Pompei, for me to call coach Eguavoen Mr. No nonsense, he merits the title but the power behind the final Afcon list way beyond his power.
If I were Eguavoen, I will say to NFF face straight away. Is either you people allowing me to choose the best players and get the job done in Cameroon or I resigned.
More so, you claimed that
“Yesterday he was Mr. No Nonsense, today you accuse him of eating the sweet dodo of corruption”.
This is what is segregating omo9ja from you former Oga Rohr fans. I have to say the truth no matter how bad the condition may be. The level of my patriotism is undiluted because I am fighting for Nigeria not Eguavoen or Amaju/NFF (AJĘWOMASAN) the doctor.
My dear Pompei, I know you can’t cover up the truth. You are still not recovered from Oga Rohr departure but you have to let that go if truly you want the best for Nigeria.
With this your comment, “Shebi this is what you wanted? Now that “YOUR OWN” is there, and the evil white man is gone, why are you not satisfied”?
Mr. Pompei, you know that Amaju/NFF can’t do without eating dodo of corruption and if you don’t dance to their tune tgen, you gone but on that case, Eguavoen should have stepped down. I omo9ja, I prefer good name to bad name. So, if I said Eguavoen have eaten sweet dodo, that is what I meant kę. You can’t rope me Pompei.
No matter what, Mr. No nonsense will make us proud in Cameroon but I am not in support of that Final Afcon list period. God bless Nigeria!!!
John Noble and Akpeyi have no business in a serious Super Eagles team. Goal keeper coach Alloy Agu is a fraud. Goalkeeper Adeleye in Israel or the other goalkeeper in Switzerland should have been invited. Thanks
Omo9ja, so you call someone who is eating the dodo of corruption MR. NO NONSENSE?
You have used your own mouth to rope yourself.
Your words of the past have come back to haunt you, and there is no hiding place for you.
You said so oo Oga Pompei. You rope yourselves Oga Rohr followers not me. You people are running around to justify your claims. Bolę nbę o o jè my friend.
Can’t you see that NFF forced coach Agu, Aigbogun, Salisu Yusuf, Ighalo, Akpeyi, John Noble and Shehu on Mr. No nonsense? Why are we like this kę. It is well. God bless Nigeria!!!
Omo9ja, you said the following:
“Can’t you see that NFF forced coach Agu, Aigbogun, Salisu Yusuf, Ighalo, Akpeyi, John Noble and Shehu on Mr. No nonsense? Why are we like this kę. It is well. God bless Nigeria!!!”
Oho, so you now see that NFF is forcing coaches and players on “your own”. When they were doing it to Rohr, why did you keep quiet?
When NFF failed to pay Rohr’s salaries, failed to give him a good pitch to play on, interfered with his player selection, why did you not speak up?
You now speak up because “your own” is there, abi?
Yes, NFF may have forced these coaches on Eguavoen, BUT THEY DIDN’T, AND CAN’T, FORCE EGUAVOEN TO ACCEPT THE JOB.
He had the choice to refuse the job, but he didn’t. So he has to live with the demands of the job. If he fails to perform, what happened to Rohr will also happen to him, and any other person that you consider to be “your own”.
Though this guy can play good football,I think there’s no need hiding injury
Wishing a player bad is the heights of intoerance and wickedness. I also don’t expect him to be there but he is there now what can we do. Can we move on.
@pompei sportsfan DEO can you analyse how we can set out in afcon for matches. The playing options we have etc.
A lot of folks criticizing Shehu here don’t really knows his worth to the team.He brings versatility to the team.His original position is DM.But he can also play RB or CB .The team as a whole has only one recognizable DM in Ndidi.What happens when he get injured or suspended?.Frank onyeka is not a DM.
The other versatile players in the team Awazien, but he only plays at RB or CB.Akpoguma plays at RB or CB, Ebuehi plays only at RB.
It is the need to have a cover for Ndidi that swayed the call up in Shehu favour.Equaveon was spot on with this in my view
Again he is not a northern quota player as the north already have it’s fair share of players in the team.Check this out:
Zaidu sanusi – kebbi
Jamilu Collins. Kaduna
Ahmed Musa. Kano
Moses Simon. Benue
Sunday Awoniyi. Kwara
Shehu Abdullahi Sokoto
Shehu is a player who practicing dodges away from team responsibility and almost brings nothing significant to play. The aforementioned players of Bassey and Ebuehi in the defense line would have been an excellent option judging by their attributes, and in no way will Shehu stand these guys in one on one contest such as ball control, precise ball crossing/pullout, tackling and most importantly attacking runs from the wingback to support the forward line. I almost don’t see Shehu on the field of play like I see Bassey and Ebuehi at their respective clubsides.
@Chima E Samuels… I am almost getting tired of your tirade against Abdullah Shehu. I am an Idomaman from Benue and even though my ancestory ties to the Igbos. I will always bring out my criticism cutlass to use it on Iwobi, Iheanacho, Ekong, Musa, Ighalo and Akpoguma when the need arise if their performances become clearly embarrassing…
I don’t care about tribe and if eleven brothers are the best to start as first eleven for Nigeria, so be it. But you… @Chima E Samuels have made it a point of duty to hammer on any player who is apparently not Igbo, that attitude must stop.
If you are a logical contributor you will know a lot of those of us who fight and trade blows here regarding our submissions sway away to agree from time to time… there are times when greatest antogonists here like @Dr.Drey,@Dr.Banks,@Oakfield and @Tayo(very annoying) will post and I will read and acknowledge if devoid of personal biases.
If I must be honest with you, I. Will put it to you that the likes of Iwobi, Iheanacho and Ekong have been sloppy for longer periods but were continually being supported to up their game.
Shehu for the longest that we know have never been a regular in SE throughout Gernot Rohr tutelage. His traditional position is midfield and he has not been allowed fair run of games in that position he prefers. I would rate young Kingsley Michael above him but not Onyeka.
FRANK ONYEKA does not have the experience of Shehu and even though playing in a superior league, he just left Denmark and average league yesterday. Against Liberia recently Onyeka was like a blunt tool… let’s be logical with our criticisms. If you will allow yourself be a little objective, the excellent analysis from @Toni above should already have helped your restiveness about Shehu.
Eguaveon consulted with the technical department enough on player-by-player basis before that list was announced to Nigerians on christmas day. If for Nothing we must respect an individual who has been a part of several AFCONs both as player and coach. Let’s be mature in our criticisms and conjectures please.
Hahaha is this Original Jimmy or clone. I have never being Tribalistic and I won’t start now. Bassey is a Calabarman and Ebuehi is foreign born so how do they relate to me a Deltan Igbo same place where Pinnick hails from and yet I want Pinnick out for the wrong choices he has been making for Nigeria football. So if I don’t give preferential treatment to Pinnick who’s from my state how much more Bassey Calabar and Ebuehi dutch born. Abeg I’m always sincere and straight forward when it comes to Judgement. Yes you also don’t like Iheanacho for reasons I don’t agree with but I leave him to speak on the pitch and never argue with you. So why don’t you do the same let’s see what Shehu will do if he earns time at Afcon. Hmmm I’m just laughing when you made that statement.
If I’m asked, your contributions on the forum give you out as an Ibo, same with JimmyBall. Or is it your handle?
Shehu is the only DM we have after ndidi in the team. Unfortunately, we lost etebo to injury is another player who can also play in that role. For those who are criticizing his inclusion in the team should go and watch the SL away game. The guy came in the 2nd half and stabilized the midfield in that millet field in SL. For me, he was the MOTM in that game.
@Mercy Where does Onyeka play if Shehu is your second choice DM? A lot of you don’t have business watching football. I will name 2 other better DM that was left out as well that Shehu can not lace their boot namely Nwobodo and Alhassan.
@toni: you no Sabi football at all fa!
Versatility doesn’t come to play in this case because we have much more than enough numerals in the list already as CAF gave an opportunity for an increment from its original 23 to 28… versatility not needed here in a list where the coach invited 4goalkeepers instead of maximum 3.
Secondly, check the league they play in, ebuehi: serie-A (no 4) in the uefa rated leagues.
Shehu plays in Cyprus league (21-30) rated league in the uefa rating..
3rdly, ebuehi has featured in about 69percent of venezia league matches with two injury records so far while shehu has played just about 35percent this season without injury.. very poor!
In case you don’t know Toni shehu’s performances for country and club has Been on a decline… While that of ebuehi has been on an ascendant level…
“Ebuehi play only right back” that’s fat lie Toni… When ebuehi was introduced in the Nigeria vs Iceland match in the 2018 world cup which wing did he play?
If you have been following ebuehi this season you will know that he has been deputising for Harps at the LB position for Venezia fc.
Pls Toni always get your fact right before coming here to defend anyone…
@Abdulhandsy… Injuries are the only reason Ola Aina has shot ahead of Tyrone Ebuehi since Russia 2018.
Regarding Super Eagles we are not going to lump Calvin Bassey into staking a claim in Central defence. Going into nations cup, I know Zaidu will get the nod ahead of Jamilu, that being said, I believe Jamilu Collins can get pushed out of the team anytime by Bassey. The lad Bassey just have not had enough games for club and country to have pushed Collins off the pedestal even though I believe Calvin is a better player in LB than Collins.
The situation that has become a talking point for inclusion of Shehu is the reason why we kept banging it out loud that players should not just continue to get callups if they won’t be getting valuable involvement as it does not make it easy for fans to assess them.
Shehu may not be a Dimitrio Albertini but he isn’t a bad player. He is one of the few utility players in the squad and I am sure opportunities will call for his service in AFCON. However we like it from first game till finals if we get there… it might only be about 16players properly used in Cameroon. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
There is no cause for alarm. Our team is taking shape and I am sure Cameroon will witness venom from Eagles.
Christian Ministries of NIgeria,
As far as tactics go, Eguavoen is likely to deploy a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 formation.
My fear is Eguavoen’s tactical flexibility. 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 will be enough to beat some teams at the Afcon. But what happens when we meet a team that is tactically savvy? When we meet Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Mali? A cookie cutter, one way or the high way approach will not work against superior teams. Eguavoen must put his thinking cap on, analyze opponents and come up with solutions, if we are to be successful.
If it was up to me, I will play it safe by deploying a formation that maximizes our defense. Especially as time is not on our side, preparation wise.
I will go with 3-4-3 or 3-5-2.
For 3-4-3,
Okoye
Awaziem, Ekong, Balogun
Aina, Ndidi, Iwobi, Sanusi
Dennis, Osimhen, Ejuke
For 3-5-2,
Okoye
Awaziem, Ekong, Balogun
Aina, Aribo, Ndidi, Iwobi, Sanusi
Dennis, Osimhen
Uzoho deputizes for Okoye. Of course, this is not set in stone. If Uzoho proves to be better, then he will start.
Our defense is typically stronger with 3 center backs. Omeruo and Ndah can be rotated in as needed.
Shehu can deputize for Aina, while Collins deputizes for Sanusi. I would have preferred Ebuehi to deputize for Aina, but Shehu will have to suffice.
Nwakali and Onyeka can be subbed into the midfield as needed.
If we’re using 3-4-3, we have wing options in Dennis, Ejuke, Chukwueze and Simon. I prefer to start with Dennis and Ejuke. The others can be subbed in as needed.
In a 3-4-3 set up, Osimhen will lead the line. In a 3-5-2, I prefer to pair Osimhen with Dennis. Sadiq, Awoniyi, Iheanacho and Ighalo can be subbed in as needed.
Substitutions must be made intelligently and on time. I would start making subs from the 60th minute. This will bring new energy to the pitch, and keep the subbed players fresh and free from burnout.
Against tactically superior sides, I think we will fare better if we deploy the 3-4-3 or the 3-5-2 system. These systems make us more solid defensively. As long as we’re not leaking goals, if we create chances and convert a good number of them, then success at the Afcon is very possible.
@Pompei… I like this your putty above. Solid comments… If we think NFF and Eagles technical crew are not reading our comments then we don’t know how solid our interactions are here…
You will be surprised some NFF officials have usernames here and contribute comments from time to time… Completesports.com is where NFF and decision makers in Nigeria football get their blueprints from believe me.
Top marks Pompei. The 3-5-2 formation surely suits the personnel available to the Super Eagles at this time. I think our opponents at the Afcon will find it too hot to handle (if adopted by Eguavoen).
Thanks, Jimbo.
Let me add that if Ekong is still low in confidence, Eguavoen should consider using Ndidi as one of the 3 center backs.
Ndidi’s stellar performances of late as a center back for Leicester makes me wonder if we should not use him in a similar manner.
Bassey would have been a nice option to have!
Omeruo and Ndah can also do a job if needed.
Let’s hope Ekong is up to the task.
Sublimely posited @POMPEI. I am 100% sold on your 352…the SPINE (midfield is solid); I will only tweak your 343 with Aribo instead of IWOBI. My reason is because you have fewer bodies in that midfield, meaning the two in the centre must be defensively strong in tandem something ARIBO slightly has over IWOBI (given his background as a BOX to BOX midfielder). Playing Ndidi and Iwobi in the defensive half of the centre means you only have NDIDI to defend. You can see I agree with the 352 because Aribo offers that defensive solidity beside Ndidi while Iwobi roves more forward to support DENNIS and Osimhen/Awoniyi (depending on Osimhem’s health).
I like the industry and creativity as well as bustling style of Dennis playing alongsde the rampaging Osimhen. They will be a handful for any defence in Cameroon.
For 433 my preferred formation will be;
Okoye
Aina Ekong Balogun Zaidu
Ndidi Onyeka Aribo
(I will drop Iwobi for Onyeka so we can have an extra defensive minded central midfielder to provide proper shielding and screening for the error-prone EKONG and the slower BALOGUN. Aribo provides more goal contributions than Iwobi so should play the AM role. He is not very physical for the African game yet to warrant him play as a double pivot. One of the tactical failings of ROHR and why ARIBO never really convinced playing against AFRICAN opposition as compared to those two games against Brazil and Ukraine was playing him as a double pivot in the defensive midfield)
Dennis (left or right sided midfield) Osimhen/Awoniyi (top marksman) Chukwueze (right sided midfield)/Ejuke (left sided midfield)
I will always start Dennis
Should Chukwueze start, DENNIS will operate from the left wing
If Ejuke is favored ahead of Chukwueze, then he will play from the left whule Dennis operates from the right
Good one, Mahmud Shuaib.
I accept your 3-4-3 tweak. As delightful as Iwobi is on the ball, he sadly does not score or assist enough goals to match his abilities. And his defensive weaknesses will put extra pressure on Ndidi, which is unwelcome.
Aribo at his best brings a potent goal threat and decent defensive contribution. But then, the question is – which Aribo will show up on match day?
As Deo would say, Aribo’s case is one of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Dr. Jekyll for Rangers, Mr. Hyde for Nigeria.
Let’s hope Dr. Jekyll shows up at the Afcon!
Hahahahshahahaha nice one bro….thoroughly enjoyed the Aribo angle.
I still believe we NEVER saw the RANGERS version due to ROHR’s inflexibility.
I pray EGUAVOEN plays your 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 (with Aribo for Iwobi); I can guarantee at least a semi finals berth laced with exhilarating and breathtaking football.
Good luck SE!