Coach Salisu Yusuf will be counting on goals by the sensational Gift Emmanuel Orban as well as overseas-based wingers Azeez Yusuf and Success Makanjuola to dismantle Guinea in Wednesday’s 2024 Olympics playoffs in Abuja.
Preparations for this match have again been chaotic, but officials hope individual brilliance will see the team smash past the Guineans before the return leg in Morocco.
Orban, 20, has been sensational for Belgian club KAA Gent since his arrival from Norway in January.
He has so far banged 12 goals in nine appearances in all competitions including four goals in a Belgian league game and a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
However, it is left to be seen if he will be available for these playoffs.
Skipper Makanjuola and Azeez Yusuf will most likely be the wingers coach Yusuf will rely on for more goals in Abuja.
Makanjuola has left the lower rungs of Spanish football to move to Latvia.
Last season, Azeez Yusuf was one of the leading scorers in the NPFL with Gombe United and he has since moved to Swedish club Mjallby AIF.
Bar Sweden-based Ibrahim Buhari, the defence will be manned by players from the domestic league with Abia Warriors defensive midfielder Daniel Wotlai playing as their screen.
Goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu should be in goal after he lost the Flying Eagles No 1 spot at the recent U20 AFCON in Egypt.
Nigeria U23 Likely Starting XI vs Guinea – Nathaniel Nwosu – Daniel Bameyi, Evans Ogbonda, Ibrahim Buhari, Christopher Nwaeze – Daniel Wotlai, Bello Babatunde, Ogunbiyi Omojesu – Success Makanjuola, Azeez Yusuf, Gift Orban
