Super Eagles interim head coach Austine Eguavoen has opted for Umar Sadiq to lead his side’s attack in today’s Group D clash against Guinea-Bissau, reports Completesports.com.
Sadiq got the nod ahead of Taiwo Awoniyi and Peter Olayinka.
Francis Uzoho will make his first appearance in the competition with first choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye rested.
The duo of Tyronne Ebuehi and Jamilu Collins will also feature for the first time, while Semi Ajayi will pair William Troost-Ekong in central defence.
Read Also: Olayinka: I Can Score Goals For Super Eagles
Leicester City duo; Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho kept their place in midfield, with Kelechi Nwakali making his first start.
Alex Iwobi and Chidera Ejuke will pair Sadiq upfront.
Super Eagles Line-Up Vs Guinea-Bissau
Uzoho
Ebuehi
Troost-Ekong
Ajayi
Collins
Ndidi
Nwakali
Iheanacho
Iwobi
Sadiq
Ejuke
By Adeboye Amosu in Garoua
35 Comments
Looks cool….just that I don’t see Iwobi flourishing from the flank. The coach knows better anyways.
Last chance for Sadiq to show his almeria form…else…would v wanted to see oyekuru and olayinka play to access them.
Expect fireworks from Ejuke, Kelechi and Iwobi….
Olayinka will likely be subbed in later. Looks like a good line up.
I need a goal or an assist from my boy Ejuke today.
That’s if he doesn’t put up selfish displays.
Very good selection. I am happy that Jamilu Collins and Tyron Ebuehi will play. I wish them best of luck.
It’s a good frist 11 but I just looked at the bench no awaziem, this guy is just came to chill out in Cameroon let us call it a vacation. If Nigeria later win the cup he too will get the medal
Eguavoun I hope u will play olayinka today let’s asses him,so far we have seen Sadiq and he is not good,stop playing him cos he is not ready,if I don’t see Frank onyeka and olayinka today,I will not be Happy with you,even though I’m ur supporter
You are mad…How many minutes have you seen sadiq play in this afcon to suggest he is not good enough? Reason with your damm head not your ass..Damm
@grand puba are you sure you are a Nigerian. Why would you say someone is mad . Please apologize to this fellow it’s absurd to use such words carelessly. My brother stop this everybody has right to their opinion without condemnation.
Spot on but you know Sadiq has to be given this chance because he has always been arrogant and claims he’s the real deal. So let’s give him this Golden chance and if he messes up then he has to go back to Laliga2 and continue his journey. Olayinka will come in second half and so is Onyeka plus Henry. Eguavoen is doing a great Job and selecting players like who really knows Nigerian football.
I really wants to see Olayinka cos he is a hussler, well I pray he comes in the second half !
Another opportunity for Sadiq his R9-qualities, I hope he takes it. It’s quite unfair not to start Olayinka but the coach sees them in training, so I trust his judgement.
Nice piece ….but I don’t think Nwakali will sit deep while Nwakali venture forward. That will be too risky, it will be other way round.
@Deo, excellent analysis. @Abdul my thoughts too. Nwakali seems to be a better ball handler while Ndidi seems to be proven ball tackler. So it should be the other way around.
@deo,you seem to know these players more than anyone on this platform. You just made me have faith in this selection. You make it seem they are as good as the team that got 6 points from 2 match. As if we have 2-1st-11 team in can that can be featured without blinking. If not for you, my thoughts were that the same boys would’ve continued to keep up the momentum and keep cementing their understanding of themselves better. That’s what European countries do. Keep the momentum going and it pays them. Even the top South American teams. Cameroon did like the European, use the super 1st team. The reasoning is that cutting their play short is like starting afresh.
All in all, let’s see how it pans out today and see whether resting majority of the 1st team can help in the knockout stages. Of course I know injuries can be minimized so you have your fill squads. These guys are professionals, so rule out tiredness. I trust Eguaveon on this because of @deo.
Good analysis from you I must say. I always look ahead of any of our matches to read your sophisticated analysis. But am not too convinced in Sadiq Umar leading the front line. I was expecting to see Olayinka lead the line. The Coach knows best for deciding to put him on the match. This is a match Sadiq needs to prove to me that his previous performance at our last two matches was a bad day in the office for him.
As the match draws near, am feeling uncomfortable with the line up base on the following reasons;
1. I don’t think Nwakali is mature enough to play for the Super Eagles. The tournament and the teams looks so much bigger than what he can offer. Am for seeing our midfield struggling as the work will be too much on Ndidi to do alone.
2. The team will suffer from creativity from the midfield with Aribo’s absence. The likes of Alex Iwobi and Ejuke will have to be precise in their decision making while in possession of the ball.
Conclusion: This team might struggle find it difficult to have a rhythm during the first match. I expect a better second half as some of the regulars will be brought in to help stabilize team play.
Nice write up, can’t wait to see olayinka and onyekuru in action. I so much believe in Ebuehi
Please o,who saw my Nwakali, pls greet am for me o. Forget that my beloved club,Arsenal, moved him on, look a lot of these European clubs are not perfect jor. Wonderful player who was supposed to make us forget Okocha. Silky touches,amazing long passes like Okocha, and accurate shooting in his legs.
Look these guys,like Nwakali, who did so well in the age grade competition that plays that our Nigerian style will naturally flourish in the Super Eagles especially the one NOT COACH BY PEOPLE LIKE ROHR.
Coach Frank Onyeka should have play along side with Ndidi in the midfield
Frank Onyeka is great midfielder
All these people saying last chance for sadiq, I just wonder.
Anyways, im glad he is finally getting his chance from the start. It will be good to see if he has struck a good understanding with the forward players.
I fully expect to see iwobi’s hand in this game as well as ejuke’s
The game is set.
Frank onyeka is a great midfielder! Really?
He is in the same category as innocent bonke. In my own opinion.
I actually rate a young Raphael onyedika as being more talented than him only difference is he has more experience than the young lad.
But they both have time on their hands to show who is better in the long run.
Onyeka is meant to be starting ahead of Nwakali like he has not even tasted Amy minute of action
You don’t know Nwakali bro. Pls watch him well today, he is a genius, football made easy. I will remind u later
And you know Nwakali of 2015 U-17 WC whom has been a journey-man ever since then. That speaks volume of how much he has retrogressed ever since.
I watched him a few times in Huesca colour and he was nothing to write home about
Wishing SE a resounding success today
So did you see any regression today?
Listen, don’t use what you see on TV to judge our players in Europe. A lot of things happen behind the scenes that you and I(though I know some) don’t know.
I wrote this before the match: “Please o,who saw my Nwakali, pls greet am for me o. Forget that my beloved club,Arsenal, moved him on, look a lot of these European clubs are not perfect jor. Wonderful player who was supposed to make us forget Okocha. Silky touches,amazing long passes like Okocha, and accurate shooting in his legs.
Look these guys,like Nwakali, who did so well in the age grade competition that plays that our Nigerian style will naturally flourish in the Super Eagles especially the one NOT COACH BY PEOPLE LIKE ROHR.”
Sadiq fit come score hattrick now for this 1st half
Please any link to tonight’s game?
If you might be interested in live boggling I mean it’s not video like a report but it is analysis of the game live and actions that are happening. Just type Nigeria FC and go to transfermarket and then you will see the match press the link you will see all the analysis live
Watch the match @ hesgoal.com
Thanks bro, livestreams on Hesgoal.com has been somehow for some times now though.
YouTube always streams d matches live.
Wow, nice. Permission to copy sir.
Is it really true my boy Nwakali is playing deep? Though his ability on the ball is like Jorginho of Chelsea.
But can u confirm he is playing deep?
Michael azibodinami