Although they couldn’t secure a win neither could they score a goal in their pre-tournament friendly games against Zimbabwe and Senegal, Super Eagles of Nigeria return to the continental fiesta with high spirit and mission to make up for the two previous absence in the tournament.
Two of Super Eagles of Nigeria’s three opponents at the 2019 African Cup of Nations, Burundi and Madagasca will be making an appearance at the African Football Fiesta for the first time. The Super Eagles of Nigeria themselves are returning to the AFCON for the first time since winning the competition in 2013. While Guinea who are not new to the continental showbiz will want to make impact right from the first game kick-off, only complacency and tactical ineptitude may be the Achilles heels of Nigeria’s super eagles in group B.
Although Coach Gernot Rohr has urged fans to manage their expectation as the team will be parading young players, it is expected that key experienced players will compliment the energy of the younger lads. For instance though his return to the Super Eagles was met with some level of controversy especially regarding the leadership of the team, Nigeria’s Nation Cup winning captain Obi Mikel is expected to the lead the team out for the football showbiz in Egypt.
As a matter of fact, the team gaffer Gernot Rohr explained that the return of captain John Obi Mikel to the team was the reason behind the decision to drop Rotherham United’s Ajayi from the final roster.
According Rohr, ”We had to do away with a defensive midfielder because Obi Mikel came back, he’s well integrated in the group so we had to remove our player Semi Ajayi and also a striker who is lacking confidence but he worked very well.” This of course is not expected to cause any fracas in the team as stakeholders have all welcome the coach’s idea which also included the dropping of Kelechi Iheanacho from the final list.
Having won the coveted trophy 6 years ago which was preceded by third place finished in 2006 and 2010, Mikel is expected to lead one of the youngest squad most of whom will making their first appearance at this stage of the competition. The team boasts of young talent like Samuel Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Francis Uzoho, Simon Moses who have a huge chance to make a statement at their first ever outing at the AFCON.
With William Troost Ekong who is securing weekly spot at Udinese and Leon Balogun who on his own part hasn’t been as regular as he may want to be at Brighton, both players have been decent partners at the team’s heart of defence. It will be expected that Abdullahi Shehu and Ola Aina both with world cup experience will be manning the eagles fullback positions while highly rated Winifred Ndidi and returning skipper are two certain names expected to be on the line-up when the team file out to face Burundi on 22nd June.
With young enterprising forward players on parade for the team, coach Rohr may be facing some selection and tactical headache for his attacking decisions. Recent experience has shown that Iwobi thrives more in the hole between midfield and defence rather than on the wing especially when playing for the super eagles. Simon and Chukweze are two players that every coach will want to use at the same time due to their artistry on the wings. Onyekuru is another pacy player with bag of tricks whpo can thrive both as top 9 and as a winger. Onuachu has again justified his inclusion in the team from previous friendly games while the team has also continued to bank on the experience of Ighalo. And how can I forget our world cup hero, Ahmed Musa who has again and again proved why he has been in the team for some time.
While there may be doubt about the team’s goalkeeping talent as none of Uzoho, Ezenwa or Akpeyi has really stand shoulder high ahead of the other, the former was in goal during the world cup and is expected to have garnered few experience. Most importantly, the team entirely have a whole responsibility to protect the backline and ultimately the goalkeeper. Its cheering to know the team has a young disciplined Ndidi in front of the defence.
Aside fans looking forward to going all out in support of their teams, football fans will be treated to some exciting football from June 21st to July 19th in the ancient state of Egypt.
What are your expectations from the AFCON 2019?
