Before kicking the ball against the Benin Republic in the African Nations Qualifiers in Port Novo last Saturday, the Nigerian team already qualified for AFCON 2021. Lesotho and Sierra Leone played out a goalless draw in the other Group L encounter and sealed the ticket for the Super Eagles.
The Super Eagles needed just one point to qualify for the tournament in Cameroon later. And they did so in grand style.
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Paul Onuachu – maligned by Gernot Rohr – scored a last gasp header to secure maximum points for the Super Eagles. This victory ended the hosts’ eight year unbeaten record on their home soil.
Therefore, the last match of Group L involving Nigeria against Lesotho at the Teslim Stadium in Lagos was only a formality.
Players Performance Review
Here is the analysis of the players in the starting line-up as we begin to prepare for the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Maduka Okoye was rarely troubled in the opening half. However, he had one sketchy moment six minutes after the break when he was caught in no manās land from a long ball. Steve Mounie failed to capitalize on the Sparta Rotterdam goalie’s error as he narrowly missed the target.
Apart from that, he was sharp throughout, claiming loose balls when necessary. He made one fine stop from Mounie later in the game. Also, Uzoho, who was between the sticks for the Eagles in the last World Cup might be a backup in Cameroon.
The team is gradually taking shape, except for our aging backline support of William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun. Rohr could try Chidozie Awanziem and another centre back pair to start the game. This option gives the established centre back a break while kick-starting plans for the future.
Healthy competition at the back
The right and left backs of the Super Eagles creates an interesting competition. Zaidu Sanusi and Jamilu Collins will have to battle for the left-back spot, while FC Porto defender, Tosin Aina however appears to have beaten Abdullahi, Ebuehi, and Awaziem to the right back position.
FC Porto defender, Aina, appears to have won the battle as he loves attacking. He almost created an assist through his brilliant run and perfect cross to Henry Onyekuru before half-time. Saturnin Allagbe stopped the Galatasaray forward from scoring. Zanusi also kept Jodel Dossou quiet and prevented a first-half Benin counter.
Awanziem came in seven minutes to the end of the regulation time. He has been tried in central defence and should easily be a part of the team in Cameroon. He could feature alongside another utility defender, Semilogo Ajayi. Ajayi has been steadying the ship for the Eagles in the absence of Wilfred Ndidi, who is back in the team.
Meanwhile, Leicester City midfielder Ndidi, has also been used in the centre-back role when the Foxes had an injury crisis. Therefore, Rohr has several options in defence.
Options in midfield
Coming into the middle of the pack, it was hard to dislodge any of Joe Aribo, Ndidi, and Oghenekaro Etebo. But that is no longer the case, as Etebo is not been getting enough minutes at Galatasaray. This development has affected him in the national team as well. The trio understand each other as they all offer attacking threats.
Although, Aribo was mostly quiet due to lack of play in Nigeria’s midfield, he held his own alongside Ndidi. Rohr then went for a three-man midfield of Aribo, Ndidi, and Onyekuru, leaving Etebo on the bench.
The three-man midfield gives Onyekuru the edge in a 4-2-1-3 formation. But he faded just after the first half. He would have started from the bench if not for the positive COVID-19 test produced by Alex Iwobi.
Nigeria is no doubt one of the countries in the continent with a plethora of options in attack. Chukwueze – who has been playing weekly for his club – was in the starting line-up.
The Villareal winger was anonymous in the first half and he missed a gilt-edged chance two minutes into the second half. Despite creating a couple of chances from set-pieces, he was quiet in open play.
No one will question the attacking trio of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Kelechi Iheanacho. If not for injury and COVID-19, Osimhen would have settled on time at Napoli and start banging in the goals.
He displayed confidence, knowing the threat he is to any defender. He grew into the game but was unlucky not to score. His effort hit the post early in the second-half and was also denied later on by Allagbe.
Iheanacho seems to have rediscovered his scoring form and showed ambition in his shooting early on. He stung the palm of Allagbe with a powerful effort before he was substituted for Paul Onuachu in the second half.
Onuachu already has 28 goals this season for the Belgian club Genk. He proved doubters wrong when he got the end of a rebound from Osimhen’s shot, after being anonymous in the first 20 minutes of his introduction.
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Anayo Iwuala came in for Onyekuru in the last ten minutes without much contribution to the game.
Now that Super Eagles have the AFCON ticket and barring injury and drop in performance, we have an idea of how the first team will look in Cameroon.
If the midfield trio along with Onyekuru and Iwobi continue with good form at their respective clubs, then the German tactician might have a selection headache. But that is good for a top team like Nigeria. Etebo can’t be written off as he has shown what he can bring to the team both defensively and in attacking.
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