Injury setback: What should Nigerians expect in AFCON 2023 opener against Equatorial Guinea

The Super Eagles will be looking to start on a strong note when they meet the National Thunder on Sunday

Nigeria will begin their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a game against Equatorial Guinea at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, Soccernet.ng reports.

Based on paper, the Super Eagles are overwhelming favourites, but football goes beyond the quality of the players on the pitch. Under coach Jose Peseiro, Nigeria have not inspired much confidence, and their injury struggles have also not helped matters, as Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar, and Wilfred Ndidi have all been ruled out.

Nonetheless, Nigeria is still expected to dominate the game because of their superior quality. Equatorial Guinea would likely sit back and hope to catch the Super Eagles on the counter, a tactic that has exposed the team’s frailties regularly.

Intercity attacker Emilion Nsue will be the target man for the National Thunder, and the midfielders and attackers will be looking to pick his runs. If the defence snoozes at any point, he could pounce.

Still, one thing is sure, though, the Super Eagles will have a plethora of opportunities, and with Osimhen on the team, they should be able to convert them. This is the kind of game where Moses Simon and Chukwueze should find a lot of joy if they put on their A-game. Attacking from the flanks would put the Equatorial Guineans under pressure, giving Nigeria the upper hand.

But if Nigeria don’t exert their dominance in the midfield quickly enough, Equatorial Guinea may punish them.

Meanwhile, Nigeria should also brace up for physical football. Equatorial Guinea play hard football, and because of the gulf in quality between them and the Super Eagles, they would want to add some bit of physicality to their game.

In terms of their set-plays, Peseiro has no cause to bother as Equatorial Guinea hardly capitalize on such opportunities. And considering Nigeria’s penchant for wasting set-pieces, Equatorial Guinea will also be less bothered.

If Peseiro can get his tactics right, this is a game that Nigeria should be able to win.