Super Eagles Manager, Jose Peseiro
Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro, has tinkered with the teams formation ahead of their first group game of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Equatorial Guinea.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the changes to the team are necessary due to injuries picked up by some key players and the absence of Kelechi Iheanacho.
Nigeria will play with only one fit striker in Victor Osimhen with Sadiq Umar, Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho all out of the first game.
Umar and Boniface were replaced by the duo of Paul Onuachu and Terem Moffi due to injury.
However, the late call-ups are unlikely to make it on time for the opening game.
Also, Iheanacho who is recovering from a knock, is expected to fly in from UK today (Saturday;) a day to the game, which effectively rules him out of the match.
During the teams training session on Friday monitored by NAN, Osimhen was kept aside from all physical contact; a precautionary move as the only fit striker in the team.
He was also Instructed to avoid going into any tackle or aggressive contact in the teams remaining training sessions ahead of the game.
Team Captain, Ahmed Musa, was deployed to the role of a backup striker.
Initially picked to play in his natural role as a winger, Musa is now expected to go into the first game as the deputy striker in the absence of Moffi, Iheanacho and Onuachu.
The three-time African champions will begin their quest for a fourth title on Sunday against Equatorial Guinea, before facing Ivory Coast Jan. 18.
Their last group game Is against Guinea-Bissau on Jan. 22.(NAN)
NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.