Coach Ladan Bosso has moved quickly to plug the weak links in the Flying Eagles in time for tomorrow’s opening Group D match at the U20 World Cup against debutants the Dominican Republic.
Abia Warriors right back Augustine Njoku may have survived right from the WAFU tournament a year ago, but he was badly exposed at the AFCON causing skipper Daniel Bameyi to be drafted to that position.
Bameyi assisted for the opening goal by Ahmed Abdullahi in the third-place match against Tunisia.
He is effective and reliable in central defence, where he has often played, but he will now be expected to push the team at right fullback.
However, he will have to be mindful to recover in time from those his surges upfront.
Bosso has also opted for Jude Sunday on the flanks ahead of the speedster Haliru Sarki, who disappointed at the AFCON after he was the undisputed Man of the Match against Zambia in Abuja in a test game.
Compact battleship Jude Sunday is on form and has the class to conjure the magic that destroyed Tunisia for third place at the AFCON.
Kick-off time is 11am Sunday.