The tactical acumen of Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro or lack of it will be on full display today in a decisive AFCON Group A clash against hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
The host nation will be gunning to beat the Super Eagles before a capacity crowd at the Alassane Quatarra Stadium in Abidjan to seal qualification to the knockout rounds of the AFCON, which is promising every match day to be a very open tournament.
The Super Eagles, on the other hand, will need at least a draw today to stay alive in the tournament after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.
The best result Nigeria will hope from the earlier Group A match between Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau would be a draw.
If both Guineas cancel themselves out, it would mean that even a narrow loss today to the host country will not be a death sentence for the three-time African champions.
SCORENigeria has reliably gathered that Peseiro plans a defensive game to contain the Elephants from Cote d’Ivoire while hitting them on the counter with his fast and dangerous attackers.
The team will therefore need to be defensively disciplined for the entire duration of this match.
The absence of injured Alhassan Yusuf has already forced Peseiro to make at least one change from his starting XI against Equatorial Guinea at the weekend.
He has several options including Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge as well as Portugal-based Chidozie Awaziem to take the place of Yusuf in the event he sticks to 4-3-3.
However, he may not only have to change personnel but also the main formation of 4-3-3, which he employed against Equatorial Guinea.
A 3-4-3 formation is under very serious consideration as a result.
SCORENigeria has learnt he is working on playing as many as five defenders, who will include three central defenders.
Fullbacks Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi will as a result be tasked with maintaining their defensive positions when Nigeria are on the back foot as well as joining the midfield and even the attack when the Super Eagles are on the offensive.
They will be the hardest working players on the pitch.
That could then mean a thin midfield of two players and a 3-man attack led by Osimhen.
It is a make or break match for the Super Eagles and it kicks off 6pm.
