The senior national team of Nigeria safely secured progression to the round of 16 at the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt following their 1-0 win over Guinea two days ago.
Owngoalnigeria.com takes a look at the five things we noticed in the senior national team of Nigeria at the ongoing AFCON 2019 where they have picked two wins out of out.
1. A Goalkeeper Is As Good As His Defence – The one area most Nigerians expressed concern about the Super Eagles heading into the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations was the area of goalkeeping. Daniel Akpeyi who is viewed by many as error prone surprisingly got the nod to start as first choice at the tournament.
The decision didn’t win Rohr any favours in the eyes of Nigerians but with two clean sheets from his two first games many are beginning to have rethink. The defence has provided the shield he need and in times where he has been needed he didn’t disappoint. It’s a case of so far, so good.
2. Omeruo Has Come Of Age – Kenneth Omeruo was expected to be the rock in the defence of the Super Eagles after his astonishing rise to the position of first choice centre back at AFCON 2013. His rise didn’t match expectations but so far at the AFCON 2019 he is by far the best Nigerian defender. He is surely reaping the reward of a successful loan spell at Levante.
3. Moses Simon Gives Super Eagles Balance – When it was announced that he will start against Guinea most people raised eyebrows over the decision but at the end of it many accepted the decision of coach Gernot Rohr to pick him ahead of Samuel Chukwueze. He defended when he had to, attacked when expected and could easily have ended the game with three assists if not for misses by Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi when he put them through. Still ended the game on a high with the assist for Kenneth Omeruo in the lone goal win over Guinea.
4. Depth Of The Squad Is Best Ever Since 94 – It appears like the best team Nigeria have produced of late with Rohr making as many as five changes to his starting lineup against Guinea but still had a solid team on display to get the job done. Playing without first choice right back Shehu Abdullahi and left back Jamilu Collins, the team didn’t look like a team short of options as Ola Aina and Chidozie Awaziem have proved themselves to be able deputies.
5. Leon Balogun ; Form Is Temporary But Class Is Permanent – Balogun didn’t get games at English Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion and many expected William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo to be ahead of him base on the number of games they played last season. Balogun however reminded Nigerians of his class wit a faultless performance against Guinea. A testament to the statement that form is temporary while class is permanent.
6. Super Eagles Can Now Play Without Mikel – In the first two years of Rohr, the only game Nigeria lost which was the 0-2 defeat against South Africa, captain John Obi Mikel was missing from the lineup and it clearly affected the team. His spot in the team remained untouched but in 2019 with the way the trio of Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi acquitted themselves against Guinea, the Eagles can now safely say, no Mikel, no problem.
