The Nigerian National Football Team, the Super Eagles, is set to face Equatorial Guinea in their first group game of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
However, the team has been hit with some injury concerns, leading the coach, Jose Peseiro, to tinker with the team’s formation ahead of the crucial game.
The CRUX NEWS reports that some key players have picked up injuries, and Kelechi Iheanacho is also absent from the first game.
As a result, the coach has had to make some changes to the team, including playing with only one fit striker, Victor Osimhen.
Sadiq Umar, Victor Boniface, and Kelechi Iheanacho will all miss the first game, with Umar and Boniface being replaced by Paul Onuachu and Terem Moffi due to injuries.
However, the late call-ups are unlikely to make it on time for the opening game.
Furthermore, Iheanacho, who is recovering from a knock, is expected to fly in from the UK today (Saturday), a day before the game, which effectively rules him out of the match.
During the team’s training session on Friday, Osimhen was kept aside from all physical contact as a precautionary measure since he is the only fit striker in the team.
He was also instructed to avoid going into any tackle or aggressive contact during the team’s remaining training sessions ahead of the game.
Team Captain, Ahmed Musa, was deployed to the role of a backup striker, despite being initially picked to play in his natural role as a winger.
Musa is now expected to go into the first game as the deputy striker in the absence of Moffi, Iheanacho, and Onuachu.
The three-time African champions will begin their quest for a fourth title on Sunday against Equatorial Guinea, before facing Ivory Coast on January 18.
Their last group game is against Guinea-Bissau on January 22.
The team will be hoping to start their campaign on a positive note, despite the injury setbacks.
