A lot of credit must go to coach Augustine Eguavoen for taking the shackles off the Super Eagles to show their undoubted talent at the AFCON in Cameroon.
Before now, the team played below their potentials, but much has since changed as it concerns their mind set.
The change in mentality means that the Super Eagles now have the willingness to be on the front foot at all times.
The Eagles now attack with a lot of energy down the flanks, they now move the ball around more quickly and there is a defensive solidity in the team.
For the final Group D match against Guinea Bissau, the Eagles were already guaranteed qualification as group winners on the head-to-head rule ahead of Egypt.
And so it was necessary for Eguavoen to ring changes to his team as they have been playing under difficult weather conditions and the risk of injury and suspension.
It was therefore an opportunity to assess fringe players like Tyronne Ebuehi, Jamilu Collins and Peter Olayinka because you will need a squad to win a tournament.
The much-changed team still created chances and never really looked their conceding a goal.
In this match (vs Guinea Bissau), we saw that Sadiq Umar does not have the pace or energy to lead the Eagles attack.
Ebuehi did not look match fit and so Ola Aina should be the preferred choice at rightback and Zaidu Sanusi is ahead of Collins at leftback.
In central defence, it is William Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo even though Semi Ajayi had a good and confident game against Guinea Bissau.
Wilfred Ndidi is the Eagles most important player because he ensures the defence is not exposed, while Moses Simon is the team’s best attacking player with Chidera Ejuke and Samuel Chukwueze solid options on the other flank.
The central midfield is Ndidi and Joe Aribo with Kelechi Nwakali an option off the bench.
Kelechi Iheanacho will play off the top striker, who is Taiwo Awoniyi in the absence of Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis.
So barring injury and suspensions, the Eagles now have a settled first XI.
The more matches you win, the more confident you get and so we should expect the Eagles to shut out the mistakes, take their chances and win going into the knockout rounds of this AFCON.
BY BADA AKINTUNDE JOHNSON