The Nigerian national football team, Super Eagles will be locking horns with their Algerian counterparts at the Nest of Champions in Uyo later today in one of the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
If they must take the day, the Gernot Rohr's tutored side must do these five things listed below:
1. Iheanacho, Iwobi must start
Manchester City's Kelechi Iheanacho and Arsenal's golden boy Alex Iwobi must play from the start. Rohr should not be tempted by the abundance of attacking players in his team and mistakenly drop the duo to the bench.
Iheanacho has delivered each time he's been called upon, scoring in all his games for the national side while Iwobi will bring creativity into a team that lacks a recognized playmaker. He's also chipped in a goal in his first competitive start.
2. Strong defence
Eagles must be strong defensively. The Super Eagles defensive is shaky when troubled. Perhaps, Rohr's biggest work lies here. The Zambians got to the skin of the Eagles' defence each time they came calling in the last match. Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong must be at their best against the Algerians.
3. Play around Iwobi
Get the ball to Iwobi. Nigeria's key strategy must be to get the Arsenal youngster involved as much as possible.
The forward has made the Gunners left wing his, as Arsene Wenger believes his creativity is indispensable to the team. Nigeria should make judicious use of his abilities.
Iwobi has got what it takes to unlock the Algerians' defence. His movement, trickery and vision will cause the visitors a lot of pains only if he gets the ball more often.
4. Don't allow Mahrez to play.
Another key strategy the Eagles should deploy is to stop the Leicester City pacy forward from playing. Mahrez can create something from nothing if given the space to operate. The forward operates from the right wing and Algeria will be counting on him in their counter attacks.
5. Bring in Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses.
The last card to be played will be to introduce the duo at the later stage of the encounter. Obviously, the last 30 minutes of the match will be explosive with the away team trying to snatch a late winner while the home side will perhaps, be aiming to protect a lead. It could also be that Nigeria will still be looking for their opener by then. But in either way, the introduction of the duo will change the face of the game.
Moses and Musa are blessed with pace. Moses has been playing as a wingback for Chelsea this season and he's been unplayable since his conversion.
If they must take the day, the Gernot Rohr's tutored side must do these five things listed below:
1. Iheanacho, Iwobi must start
Manchester City's Kelechi Iheanacho and Arsenal's golden boy Alex Iwobi must play from the start. Rohr should not be tempted by the abundance of attacking players in his team and mistakenly drop the duo to the bench.
Iheanacho has delivered each time he's been called upon, scoring in all his games for the national side while Iwobi will bring creativity into a team that lacks a recognized playmaker. He's also chipped in a goal in his first competitive start.
2. Strong defence
Eagles must be strong defensively. The Super Eagles defensive is shaky when troubled. Perhaps, Rohr's biggest work lies here. The Zambians got to the skin of the Eagles' defence each time they came calling in the last match. Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong must be at their best against the Algerians.
3. Play around Iwobi
Get the ball to Iwobi. Nigeria's key strategy must be to get the Arsenal youngster involved as much as possible.
The forward has made the Gunners left wing his, as Arsene Wenger believes his creativity is indispensable to the team. Nigeria should make judicious use of his abilities.
Iwobi has got what it takes to unlock the Algerians' defence. His movement, trickery and vision will cause the visitors a lot of pains only if he gets the ball more often.
4. Don't allow Mahrez to play.
Another key strategy the Eagles should deploy is to stop the Leicester City pacy forward from playing. Mahrez can create something from nothing if given the space to operate. The forward operates from the right wing and Algeria will be counting on him in their counter attacks.
5. Bring in Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses.
The last card to be played will be to introduce the duo at the later stage of the encounter. Obviously, the last 30 minutes of the match will be explosive with the away team trying to snatch a late winner while the home side will perhaps, be aiming to protect a lead. It could also be that Nigeria will still be looking for their opener by then. But in either way, the introduction of the duo will change the face of the game.
Moses and Musa are blessed with pace. Moses has been playing as a wingback for Chelsea this season and he's been unplayable since his conversion.
