25 Super Eagles players are slated to tackle Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in a preparation match in less than 10 days, Soccernet.ng reports.
The head coach of the Super Eagles Jose Peseiro, is facing a delightful yet daunting task as he gears up for the national team’s upcoming friendly clashes scheduled for October 13 and 16.
The Portuguese boss has assembled a formidable arsenal of forwards, all in blistering form, making the task of selecting the starting lineup an intricate puzzle.
Among the eight forwards in contention—Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi, Terem Moffi, and Victor Boniface—each boasts a unique set of skills and a track record of delivering when it matters most.
Recently, the 63-year-old manager has leaned towards a formation featuring four strikers, with two playing out wide and two positioned centrally.
In their previous encounter against Sao Tome and Principe in September, Iheanacho and Lookman operated on the flanks, while Osimhen and Awoniyi held the fort in central positions.
With the two friendly matches scheduled in quick succession, Peseiro enjoys the luxury of rotating his squad.
The remarkable form of these forwards presents him with a pleasant predicament in terms of team selection, as any combination seems potent enough to rattle any defense.
Iheanacho has been a revelation for Leicester City this season, notching up four goals and two assists in 12 appearances.
Moses Simon has emerged as a linchpin for FC Nantes, contributing two goals and three assists in seven French Ligue 1 outings. Lookman has ignited Atalanta’s attack, finding the net twice in their last three fixtures.
Despite being embroiled in a club controversy, Osimhen continues to shine for Napoli, with five goals in seven games, placing him second in the Serie A top scorers list.
https://twitter.com/ayo_oguntimehin/status/1695466412536377848?s=46&t=b9FUBUNstw3lkK85djbEwA
Nottingham Forest’s Awoniyi has been a breath of fresh air, with three goals and two assists in seven games. Moffi mirrors Awoniyi’s impressive stats for OGC Nice, matching his goal tally and assists.
Among this crop of talent, Boniface has arguably been the standout performer in Europe this season. The 22-year-old sensation has contributed to an astonishing 11 goals in just eight games, with eight goals and three assists across the Bundesliga, Europa League, and DFB-Pokal for Leverkusen.
New Milan recruit Chukwueze, although enduring a slow start in Italy, is poised for his breakthrough moment. He’s yet to register a goal or an assist in seven appearances for the Rossoneri, but it’s worth noting that he has started only one game.
As Peseiro’s troops gear up for the upcoming friendly, the Super Eagles’ faithful await with bated breath to see Peseiro’s selection for the starting lineup against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
The Super Eagles are set to face Mozambique’s Black Mambas in their second international friendly match during the current FIFA international window, but they will be without two of their key strikers, Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Osimhen.