The Flying Eagles will be counting on a deadly three-man attack of striker Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi and wingers Farayola Olawale and Chisom Orji to go past Cote d’Ivoire in their opening U20 AFCON WAFU B qualifiers in Porto Novo this afternoon.
Kick-off time is 4pm at Stade de Galles in Porto Novo.
The Flying Eagles have scored 28 goals and let in four goals in eight test matches, which they have all won.
Coach Ladan Bosso has favoured the 4-3-3 formation of two wingers and a classic centre-forward, who he has found in Ikwuemesi.
The player of Olive Charles Academy in Idemili, Anambra State, has fired eight goals in test games leading to the qualifiers in Benin Republic.
He is big, strong and knows his way to goal.
He has also been helped by the speed of right winger Olawale and the tricky and guile of Orji on the left.
The Flying Eagles cannot afford a slip in Group B, which has Cote d’Ivoire and perennial rivals Ghana.
The U20 AFCON qualifiers WAFU B began Saturday with hosts Benin going down 1-0 to Niger, while Togo and Burkina Faso played out a 1-1 draw.
Flying Eagles likely Starting XI vs Cote d’Ivoire (4-3-3): Kola Oladipo – Moses Solomon, Mike Zaruma, Chris Nwaeze, Isaiah Ejeh – Adewale Oladoyin, Azeez Oseni, Mohammed Abdallah – Farayola Olawale, Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi, Chisom Orji
