The lineup for the senior national team of Nigeria for today’s FCON 2021 game against Sudan has been made known to OwnGoalNigeria.com.

We exclusively gathered that coach Austine Eguavoen has decided to switch formation from the 4-2-3-1 the team played against Egypt where they won 1-0 to a more attacking formation.

The team per what we gathered will play 4-2-4 with the emphasis on going all out to attack with Sudan expected to approach the game with a low defensive block to frustrate Nigeria.

Same team like the one that played Egypt will be used for the game that starts by 5pm Nigerian team and a win for the Nigerian team will see them through to the next round of the tournament which is the round of 16.

Maduka Okoye will be in goal with a back four of Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, William Troost Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo. Right in front of them will be the midfield two of Joe Aribo and Wilfred Ndidi.

Moses Simon will start on the left with Samuel Chukwueze retaining his position on the right. The attack will be the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Maduka Okoye
Kenneth Omeruo
William Troost Ekong
Zaidu Sanusi
Ola Aina
Wilfred Ndidi
Joe Aribo
Kelechi Iheanacho
Taiwo Awoniyi
Samuel Chukwueze
Moses Simon

The Super Eagles of Nigeria had their final training session ahead of tomorrow’s game against Sudan at the 2021 delayed Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon.

A win in tomorrow’s game against Sudan will seal passage to the round of 16 for the Nigerian team and ahead of the game , coach Austine Eguavoen put the players through their paces. Below is the five things we noticed during the session.

1. Eguavoen Sticks To Same Lineup: Per what we say today at the training session, it’s clear to see that the coach of the team Austine Eguavoen has plans to stick to same lineup that defeated Egypt 1-0 in their opening game of the tournament.

2. Emphasis On Passing – The session was halted severally by Eguavoen as he seek to drive his method of how he wants them to pass their way through what he expects to be a low block from the Sudanese team. He was keen on seeing them move the ball quicker and overload the box when in the opponent’s half.

3. Onyekuru Might Play Some Role – Henry Onyekuru who was a late call up to the team is pushing to start. As it was yesterday when he found the back of the net, he was very lively today getting past his markers with ease and also linking up nicely.

4. Nwakali Need To Run More – It’s clear that Kelechi Nwakali is high in the thinking of Eguavoen who believe he has what it takes to play but he is demanding more from the Huesca man. He keeps on pushing the former Nigeria U17 captain to run more for the good of the team especially when they are in transition and without the ball.

5. Shoot At Sight- One approach that the Super Eagles will take tomorrow will likely be the option of shooting at goal at the sight of it. Eguavoen had the players go through several shooting sessions obviously to work on their confidence when the chance to shoot comes their way.

Interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen says he is working on the efficiency of his team scoring goals after scoring just once against Egypt.

Nigeria got their campaign underway with a slim 1-0 win courtesy of a goal from Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho but with proper conversation of chances, they would have scored more.

In the absence of top striker Victor Osimhen and last AFCON tournament top scorer Odion Ighalo, the burden of scoring goals for the Nigerian team lies on the shoulders of the duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and Sadiq Umar.

Both of them fail to hit the net against Egypt but ahead of the game against Sudan, Eguavoen said he wants his team to not just rely on the strikers but share the responsibility of scoring goals.

“We have talked about scoring goals. I have made it clear that we won’t build our team on one person scoring goals. That’s why we try to assist one another. If you are not in a good position, try to assist your teammates. It’s a collective effort”, he explained.

The coach of the senior national team of Sudan Burhan Tia says the Super Eagles of Nigeria opening win against Egypt showed their strength but his team won’t be looking into it that much.

Sudan will tomorrow take on Nigeria in the second round of game in the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, while Nigeria started their campaign with a win, Sudan were held to a 0-0 draw by Guinea Bissau.

With Nigeria needing a win to seal passage to the round of 16 of the tournament, Sudan will be all out to also pick their first win of the tournament to keep their chances of progressing from the group alive.

Tia says although Nigeria defeated Egypt, his team will be working on tactics that will help them upstage the Super Eagles when both teams clash tomorrow.

“We want to try to play football and the key thing for us is the three points at stake. We have set objectives and we are ready to achieve it”, the coach said at the post match conference ahead of tomorrow’s game.

“We know that Nigeria is a great side. They are going to be looking in good shape and we have a great team also. Nigeria played against Egypt and they won. It’s a football game and Nigeria is a great team known worldwide. They have taken part in many competitions but I want to say that the team want to win.

”Nigeria have their own advantage, we know the team very well. This match is very crucial and we have mapped out strategies to get a positive result”, he concluded.

Super Eagles and Nantes of France winger Moses Simon says the tactics of interim coach of the Nigerian team Austine Eguavoen is behind his spectacular display against Egypt.

Nigeria defeated Egypt 1-0 with Simon having what he personally described as one of his best game in the colours of Nigeria the past two years. He operated from the left wing same place he is making his mark in France with Nantes.

Ahead of tomorrow’s game against Sudan , Simon was asked the secret of his near faultless performance and he credited it to the tactics and freedom he has been given by the interim coach of the Nigerian team.

” It’s one of my best games in the last two years. We changed the coach and tactics. Every coach has his own mentality. With the current coach, he gave me the freedom to express myself. It really helped me a lot”, he said.

One area of his game which frustrated against Egypt was his ability to hit crosses that will count in the box and it drew a call for his improvement in that regard by former Africa Footballer of the year Emmanuel Amuneke, Simon reacted to his take by confirming that he is working on it.

“We are working on the finishing. The coaches are making sure we get things right. We are not perfect. Emmanuel Amunike is a legend. We watch play on TV. We learn from someone like him. I am not Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Everyone makes mistakes. We are trying to improve on our game”, he concluded.

The senior national team of Nigeria returned back to full training after yesterday’s recovery session following the 1-0 win over Egypt.

Led by coach Austine Eguavoen, the team started the session around 5pmNigerian time with 26 players taking part as Chidozie Awaziem is still out injured. Kenneth Omeruo who went off injured in the Egypt game took part in full training.

After the usual drills the team had a practice match which lasted for thirty minutes and it ended with the team in green winning 2-1 in what was a very entertaining affair as the build up to Saturday’s game against Sudan hots up.

The team wearing green training jerseys won the 30-minute session and it contained Maduka Okoye, Tyrone Ebuehi, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi, Olisa Ndah, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Chidera Ejuke, Peter Olayinka, Umar Sadiq, Henry Onyekuru and Ahmed Musa.

Olympiacos Henry Onyekuru set the ball rolling with the curtain raiser on 6 minutes. The former Monaco winger fired a sweet grounder which left goalkeeper Francis Uzoho stranded.

The team increased the tally through Sadiq Umar who showed predatory instinct to drive home Onyekuru’s pass.

Kelechi Nwakali reduced the tally with a beautiful screamer that Maduka Okoye couldn’t stop.

The Super Eagles will aim to qualify from group D with another game against the Falcons of Jediane (Sudan) at Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua.

Team Red
Francis Uzoho
Ola Aina
Zaidu Sanusi
William Troost-Ekong
Kenneth Omeruo
Wilfred Ndidi
Joe Aribo
Kelechi Nwakali
Taiwo Awoniyi
Moses Simon
Samuel Chukwueze
Kelechi Iheanacho

Team Green
Maduka Okoye
Tyrone Ebuehi
Jamilu Collins
Semi Ajayi
Olisa Ndah
Frank Onyeka
Alex Iwobi
Chidera Ejuke
Peter Olayinka
Umar Sadiq
Henry Onyekuru
Ahmed Musa

The senior national team of Nigeria returned back to full training after yesterday’s recovery session following the 1-0 win over Egypt.

Led by coach Austine Eguavoen, the team started the session around 5pmNigerian time with 26 players taking part as Chidozie Awaziem is still out injured. Kenneth Omeruo who went off injured in the Egypt game took part in full training.

After the usual drills the team had a practice match which lasted for thirty minutes and it ended with the team in green winning 2-1 in what was a very entertaining affair as the build up to Saturday’s game against Sudan hots up.

The team wearing green training jerseys won the 30-minute session and it contained Maduka Okoye, Tyrone Ebuehi, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi, Olisa Ndah, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Chidera Ejuke, Peter Olayinka, Umar Sadiq, Henry Onyekuru and Ahmed Musa.

Olympiacos Henry Onyekuru set the ball rolling with the curtain raiser on 6 minutes. The former Monaco winger fired a sweet grounder which left goalkeeper Francis Uzoho stranded.

The team increased the tally through Sadiq Umar who showed predatory instinct to drive home Onyekuru’s pass.

Kelechi Nwakali reduced the tally with a beautiful screamer that Maduka Okoye couldn’t stop.

The Super Eagles will aim to qualify from group D with another game against the Falcons of Jediane (Sudan) at Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua.

Team Red
Francis Uzoho
Ola Aina
Zaidu Sanusi
William Troost-Ekong
Kenneth Omeruo
Wilfred Ndidi
Joe Aribo
Kelechi Nwakali
Taiwo Awoniyi
Moses Simon
Samuel Chukwueze
Kelechi Iheanacho

Team Green
Maduka Okoye
Tyrone Ebuehi
Jamilu Collins
Semi Ajayi
Olisa Ndah
Frank Onyeka
Alex Iwobi
Chidera Ejuke
Peter Olayinka
Umar Sadiq
Henry Onyekuru
Ahmed Musa

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria has more unity than ever as they get set to take on Sudan in their second group game of the 2021 delayed Africa Cup of Nations.

After the 1-0 win over Egypt in their opening game they have shifted their focus completely to Saturday’s confrontation with the Falcons of Jediane (Sudan) at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua.

A win over Sudan will see them book their spot in the round of 16 of the tournament which will make their final group game against debutant Guinea Bissau less important to their quest of making it out of the group.

Ahead of the game, the media department aimed a subtle dig at former coach of the team Gernot Rohr by uncharacteristically quoting an unnamed backroom staff on the spirit in camp.

The source per the NFF said the team has a better team spirit saying it’s like a breath of fresh air under present coach of the team Austine Eguavoen.

Below is the quote from the press release.

Old hands in the Nigeria team’s backroom have told of a breath of fresh air in camp, in which democracy, liberty and communication have been instituted and everyone is made to feel a part of all activities, events and programmes. “Coach Eguavoen has insisted that everyone must communicate; they must say their mind at all times. He speaks to each and every player like he’s their uncle and notes and deals with their challenges. He does not discriminate.

“The camp is so interesting and is once more like a family setting. Everyone is like another’s brother. The spirit is high and I believe our team will go far in this competition,” said one backroom staff.

Former Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose says the former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr left behind a solid team for interim coach of the team Austine Eguavoen.

Rohr was at the helm of the Nigerian team for five years before his sacking a little over a month ago and in his first competitive game as interim manager Eguavoen was largely praised for the way the team played.

They were very dominant and got their AFCON 2021 campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 win over Egypt and according to Ambrose, Rohr’s touch in the team should be acknowledged.

“I stand corrected but Eguavoen used same players like Rohr did. If we are honest Rohr gave debut to six of the players who started the game in Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, Joe Aribo, Taiwo Awoniyi, Samuel Chukwueze and Maduka Okoye”, Efe told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” Even Chidera Ejuke and Semi Ajayi who came off the bench were all handed their international bow by Rohr. It’s unfair not to acknowledge the job he did in his time as coach. It’s helping Eguavoen now”.

Egyptian defender Akram Tawfik won’t play any further part in the ongoing 2021 delayed Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cameroon, The Egyptian FA has announced.

The defender was carried out on a stretcher in their 0-1 loss to Nigeria when he tries to stop super Eagles winger Moses Simon from getting past him very early into the game in Garuoa.

Simon showed good turn of pace before breaking his run with a smart turn and in a bid to get into a position to put in a tackle, Tawfik went down and after treatment was carried off the pitch.

He was subsequently substituted and latest medical tests carried out by the medics of the Egyptian team showed that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and will be out for at least a year.

Nantes winger Simon was unplayable for the 89th minute that he was on the pitch and had a hand in the move that led to the goal that decided the game in favour of the senior national team of Nigeria. It was his cross that was cleared onto the path of Joe Aribo who laid the assist for Kelechi Iheanacho.