Coach Jose Peseiro boasted that the Super Eagles parade one of the most fearsome attacks in Africa, but he has now had to scamper for more firepower after injured Victor Boniface withdrew and it is still touch-and-go case for another striker, Kelechi Iheanacho.
The emergence of Victor Boniface in the Bundesliga this season meant Peseiro will have to make room for the exciting modern-day striker in a star-studded front line.
The Portuguese coach thus opted for the 4-4-2 formation, which will see star striker Victor Osimhen play alongside Boniface.
However, when Bayer Leverkusen ace Boniface suffered his groin injury and with Iheanacho out in England recovering from his own injury, Peseiro has had to put on his thinking cap.
“The injury is not looking good. It cannot be managed for a tournament and I fear for him,” a source told SCORENigeria when it was becoming a possibility that Boniface will not fly with the Super Eagles to the AFCON.
Peseiro has now said he favours 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 formations with Osimhen as the arrow head of the attack supported by two wingers.
He has drafted a foreign goalkeeper trainer and it looks very much like he has settled for South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as his No 1.
Nwabali oozes confidence, has an imposing physical presence and he is also good with his feet to put an end to the goalkeeping crisis that faced the team.
For central defence, he has a mix of the experience of Kenneth Omeruo and William Ekong as well as the athletic prowess of Calvin Bassey, Chidozie Awaziem and Semi Ajayi.
From this group, he will pick his starting three players in the heart of the defence.
The 3-4-3 formation will also deploy wingbacks with Zaidu Sanusi and Bright Osayi-Samuel favoured to start in these positions.
In midfield, this system allows for two pivots – a main defensive midfielder playing alongside a more attacking player with a free role.
Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge started as the main pivot, while Alhassan Yusuf from another Belgian club Antwerp enjoyed the free role against Guinea.
In the absence of Wilfred Ndidi, Onyedika and Frank Onyeka will battle for the starting XI spot, while Alhassan Yusuf, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo will contest the other position in midfield.
Osimhen will lead the Eagles strike, Iheanacho, late call-up Terem Moffi and Sadiq Umar as cover, while the wingers pushing to start are Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Ahmed Musa.
