Coach Gernot Rohr has already named his line up for the tie against Algeria.

The manager reportedly had one on one meeting with a total of 11 players who are expected to start the tie but some reports claim he spoke to 12 players, and will make up his mind on who to drop after consulting with his assistants.

We gathered he has maintained his 4-3-2-1 formation but has introduced Oghenekaro Etebo and Victor Moses, in place of Moses Simon and Brown Ideye from the team that defeated Zambia 2-1 in Ndola.

As earlier reported by Owngoalnigeria.com, Daniel Akpeyi will be in goal as replacement for first choice goalkepper Carl Ikeme who is out injured.

1. Carl Ikeme
2. Elder son Echiejile
3. Kenneth Omeruo
4. Leon Balogun
5. William Troost Ekong
6. Eddy Onazi
7. Victor Moses
8. Oghenekaro Etebo
9. Kelechi Iheanacho
10. Mikel Obi
11. Alex Iwobi

Nigeria could line up as many as four centre backs when they take on Algeria in the World Cup 2018 qualifiers tie in Uyo later today.

The Nigerian team is battling with dearth of quality full backs with Wilfred Ndidi who is traditionally a centre back or defensive midfielder set to retain his spot in the team.

Elderson Echiejile who has been the Super Eagles left full back for around six years is another player who has played as centre back in his career, but he could be dropped in favour of Kenneth Omeruo.

Chelsea loanee Omeruo has been playing at left back for the probables in training as coach Gernot Rohr appears to be leaning towards maintaining the combo of Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong as central defenders.

The choice of Omeruo as left back is reportedly meant to add pace to the left side of Nigeria defence, where Algeria will most likely want to exploit Echiejile’s lack of pace.

Ahead of Nigeria’s all important World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria later today, coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has given a big hint on how his team intends to approach the game.

Rohr confessed that his team has problems in the right full back position and will need offensive players to do a job for whoever gets the nod to start at right back.

The German tactician was quick to point out that snuffing out the threat of Riyad Mahrez, who will most likely start on the left for Algeria will require Victor Moses, who plays as a wing back for Chelsea to put in a shift defensively even though he will be played further up the pitch.

He categorically stated that the Eagles defence will be set up in a similar way to that of Chelsea, but lamented the lack of time and players to properly execute the plan.

“We have been trying some different systems in training this week.

“We have a problem in the right back position. The reason for this is because our right back when we played against Tanzania (in Uyo on September 3) has not been playing regularly at his club” Rohr said.

“So it is difficult but we have been trying to find another right back and that was Tyrone (Ebuehi) but he chose not to come at the last moment.

“So for this game against Algeria, we have another solution or the same solution (as we did for the last game against Zambia) because Ndidi was not so bad (in Ndola).

“We know that he will likely be coming up against Mahrez who is a very good player, We must be strong on the wings and defensively too.

“(Victor) Moses plays on the right (for Chelsea), not as a defender but mostly from a midfield position.

“He defends when they lose the ball and attacks when they have the ball so we have to do a lot of work on the right side.

“We will try to play like Chelsea (in this regard) on Saturday but they usually have three defenders but we have two in that position.

“The major challenge we have had is that the time is too short to perfect these things.

“We have played two games together (against Tanzania and Zambia) and changing too much for the game against Algeria will be too much to ask,” he concluded .

Enugu Rangers forward Chisom Egbuchulam has written off any chance of Algeria getting a point against Nigeria, when both teams meet in Uyo later today.

Algeria are hoping to get at least a draw against Nigeria to keep their chances of qualifying for the World Cup 2018 in Russia alive, but the forward who won the Nigeria League title with Rangers says they don’t have the capacity to get a point, talk more of a win.

Egbuchulam made the team but didn’t get to play when Nigeria defeated Zambia 2-1 in Ndola. He is full of confidence that the boys of coach Gernot Rohr will be too much for the Algerians.

” Sometimes when we train, I wonder if any team in the world can beat us. We have the best coach in Rohr, a master tactician and some of the best players in Africa” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” There’s no way Algeria will get a draw in Uyo. They will lose, they can pick points elsewhere to boost their campaign but in Uyo, nothing is in stock for them”.

Ahead of Nigeria’s all important World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria later today, coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has given a big hint on how his team intends to approach the game.

Rohr confessed that his team has problems in the right full back position and will need offensive players to do a job for whoever gets the nod to start at right back.

The German tactician was quick to point out that snuffing out the threat of Riyad Mahrez, who will most likely start on the left for Algeria will require Victor Moses, who plays as a wing back for Chelsea to put in a shift defensively even though he will be played further up the pitch.

He categorically stated that the Eagles defence will be set up in a similar way to that of Chelsea, but lamented the lack of time and players to properly execute the plan.

“We have been trying some different systems in training this week.

“We have a problem in the right back position. The reason for this is because our right back when we played against Tanzania (in Uyo on September 3) has not been playing regularly at his club” Rohr said.

“So it is difficult but we have been trying to find another right back and that was Tyrone (Ebuehi) but he chose not to come at the last moment.

“So for this game against Algeria, we have another solution or the same solution (as we did for the last game against Zambia) because Ndidi was not so bad (in Ndola).

“We know that he will likely be coming up against Mahrez who is a very good player, We must be strong on the wings and defensively too.

“(Victor) Moses plays on the right (for Chelsea), not as a defender but mostly from a midfield position.

“He defends when they lose the ball and attacks when they have the ball so we have to do a lot of work on the right side.

“We will try to play like Chelsea (in this regard) on Saturday but they usually have three defenders but we have two in that position.

“The major challenge we have had is that the time is too short to perfect these things.

“We have played two games together (against Tanzania and Zambia) and changing too much for the game against Algeria will be too much to ask,” he concluded .

Coach of the Nigeria senior national team Gernot Rohr has revealed the reason why Chippa United shot stopper Daniel Akpeyi will be in goal for Nigeria when they play Algeria today.

Group B leaders Nigeria are up against Algeria who are looking to breathe life into their campaign after starting on a shaky note by drawing 1-1 with Cameroun at home.

While Algeria have had to contend with injuries and subsequently withdrawal of some key players, Nigeria’s main worry was looking for a replacement for injured first choice goalkepper Carl Ikeme.

The Franco German manager of Nigeria handed a late call up to Akpeyi, but has now confirmed that the 29 year old will be in goal against Algeria, and explained why he went for him ahead of Dele Alampasu and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

” Ezenwa has not played a competitive game in six weeks, Dele is still very young for a game of this magnitude although he is very talented” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“Akpeyi has played seven games in three weeks. And he has plenty of experience. He played in Egypt. He has good confidence so we know he can do the job.”

Coach of the Algeria senior national team Georges Leekens during his first training session at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, venue of their World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Nigeria revealed his starting line up for the game.

Leekens team played a 4-3-3 formation as picked up by the lens of Owngoalnigeria.com judging by the regulars in the team wearing yellow bibs, as against the reserves who were in green.

Here is how Leekens team will line up against Nigeria barring any late minute change.

M’Bolhi

Ziti – Belkaroui – Mandi – Ghoulam

Medjani
Taider Bentaleb

Brahimi Mahrez

Slimani

Emma Ado , who is the agent to late Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has revealed why the Nigeria national team don’t live up to expectation whenever they play at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo.

Ado in an exclusive interview with Owngoalnigeria.com says Nigeria’s poor record in Uyo goes beyond the playing surface of the nest of champions.

Nigeria have only won once at the magnificent stadium, and according to Ado it is so because the night life of the town and the activities at the hotel, where the Eagles are usually lodged is a distraction.

” My brother, Uyo has it’s own peculiar night life, this players find it hard to resist. One clear case was the game that denied Nigeria qualification for the 2015 Cup of Nations. A lot happened”. He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” We heard an allegation against a player but my late brother and coach Keshi didn’t believe it until he saw how poor the player was on the match day, the size of the hotel makes controlling the players difficult.

” Also the night life gets to the players even if they don’t go out, they have their own way of making things happen without the knowledge of the coaches.

” My advice to coach Gernot Rohr is for him to use both the team security and the police to monitor the movement in and out of the hotel, else we will be running the risk of having tired players on the pitch”.

According to leaks gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com, the Desert Foxes of Algeria have been training very hard on freekicks ahead of their World Cup 2018 qualifiers tie against Nigeria.

They will have their first session at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo, venue of the game and according to reports they will lay emphasis on taking their chances via set pieces.

Before departing for Nigeria, the team worked on various freekicks methods both direct and indirect, especially from around the box during training.

Algeria depleted by injuries to key players are also planning to line up a defensive formation, which will see them aim to catch the Super Eagles on the break with quick counter attacks.

Nigeria are currently top of group B in the CAF World Cup 2018 qualifiers after beating Zambia 2-1 away in Ndola, while Algeria are presently joint second with Cameroun after both teams play out a 1-1 draw in Algiers.

The Super Eagles tried two different formations during their first training session at the Nest of Champions, venue of their World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria.

After trying out a 3-4-3 formation, coach Gernot Rohr tried the players in a 4-3-2-1 formation and Owngoalnigeria.com correspondent who witnessed the session, revealed how the probables were lined up.

Daniel Akpeyi (GK)

Wilfred Ndidi (DF)

Kenneth Omeruo (LB)

Leon Balogun (CB)

William Troost Ekong (CB)

Mikel Obi (MF)

Eddy Onazi (DM)

Oghenekaro Etebo (MF)

Alex Iwobi (FW)

Victor Moses (FW)

Kelechi Iheanacho (FW)
Keys:

GK: Goalkepper
CB: Centre Back
DM: Defensive Midfield
RB: Right Back
LB: Left Back
MF: Midfielder
FW: Forward