Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has hinted at a switch in the defensive shape of his team, which could see them revert to a three centre back option in the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and South Africa respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle has played with a flat back four with the Super Eagles since taking over as coach, but said he is now considering altering the style as part of how to help the team defend better, especially against high pressing teams.
” We have to score goals ans also hope we don’t concede. Defensively we haven’t done as expected and it’s an area we are looking at swapping a little bit to a formation that protects the goalkeeper more when we play in September”, the coach said in Abuja.
Meanwhile sources close to the Malian say he will most likely start Getafe forward Uche Chrisantus in attack alongside Victor Osimhen ahead of Ademola Lookman, who is lacking match practice no thanks to the transfer dispute he is having with Atalanta.
Uche is seen as someone who understands the coach’s desire for his team to press high up the pitch, and will no doubt play a very huge role in both games. He is expected to arrive the camp as a player of English Premier League side Crystal Palace with his move waiting to be made official after a medical.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
