Nigeria will tomorrow take on Tunisia in their second game of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after starting on a high with a 2-1 win over Tanzania, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

A win against the team who knocked them out of the tournament in 2022 in the round of 16, will see them book a spot in the same round with one game to spare against Uganda.

Looking ahead to the game, head coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle says his team have two options of approaching the game, and he hasn’t decided on which approach will be better.

” I cannot talk about my starting lineup, so you’ll see at the beginning of the game. I can tell you something. Now in my mind I have two options. The first is maybe to give the ball to Tunisia and when we get the ball back go directly to score goal or to continue with my philosophy because the game against Tunisia is a great game maybe we will change something”,

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will likely make just one change to the Super Eagles starting lineup against Tunisia in tomorrow’s Africa Cup of Nations game, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Chelle’s team started the campaign with a 2-1 win over Tanzania, and will hope for more of the same tomorrow against Tunisia who defeated them in the round of 16 in the 2019 tournament in Cameroon.

Feelers from yesterday’s training suggest that Samuel Chukwueze will likely make way for Moses Simon to come into the starting lineup for tomorrow’s game.

Simon impressed Chelle with his overall contribution when he was introduced as a substitute against Tanzania. The idea is to also use his ability to track back against a team that loves to play on the break.

Tunisia is a team that loves to keep the ball, and also deadly in transition hence the need for Chelle to play with a runner who is willing to track back and add to the numbers defensively in the event of a breakaway.

The team will perfect their tactics later today in their final training session ahead of the 6:30pm Nigerian time clash, where a win will see team seal a spot in the round of 16.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over Tanzania in their opening game of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman secured the win for Nigeria, who dominated most part of the game but still didn’t kill the game as a contest.

Tanzania were in the game until the final whistle. A source of worry for fans of the Nigerian team who expected a more comfortable win.

We take a look at five things that made the win uncomfortable for the Super Eagles.

1. Poor Finishing – The scoreline suggest it was a tight game but in reality it was far from it. Nigeria should have been home and dry if the chances that came the way of Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, Victor Osimhen and Alex Iwobi were taken.

2. First Game Syndrome – Usually the first game of any tournament is the hardest. Even head coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle said it’s normal for the team to improve as the tournament progresses.

3. Diamond Formation Against Low Block – Tanzania sat deep in their half with an idea to attack on the break. Nigeria’s formation from the start didn’t give them width to stretch the play and no wonder they got going when a traditional wingers in Moses Simon was introduced in the second half.

4. Playing Players Out Of Position – It feels like a waste of substitute when Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was introduced to play as a right winger. The Lazio midfielder didn’t look comfortable leading to so many poor decision, that could have carved open a chance.

5. Victor Osimhen – Not a day to remember for the big man. He was tensed, hurried his efforts and made poor decisions with his passes. Also failed to time his run properly leading to offside calls when the team pressed for a goal.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of Tanzania Miguel Gamondi has explained his team’s 1-2 defeat against Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria went ahead courtsey of a Semi Ajayi header in the 36th minute. A lead they held until the half time break, but lost it five minute after the restart.

Charles M’Mombwa caught the Nigerian defence off guard with his smart run behind, and produced a finish that was good enough to draw his team level. It however lasted for just two minutes.

Ademola Lookman immediately restored Nigeria’s lead with a left foot finish from the edge of the box. It ended up as the winner for the Super Eagles in their first game of the tournament.

Gamondi felt his team deserves better. ” I think Tanzania played better than many people expected. Nigeria had a lot of possession, but we neutralised them well through our tactical system”, he stated at the post match presser.

He went on to explain the difference maker in the game by citing Nigeria’s better individual quality.

“They did create chances, but most of them came from individual quality — which is not surprising. Overall, I believe we surprised a lot of people with the quality of our performance against Nigeria today.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Super Eagles of Nigeria started their campaign at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations on a winning note with a 2-1 win over Taifa Stars of Tanzania with goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

We rate the players on parade for Eric Chelle’s team who are aiming to go one step better than they did last time out, where they were runners up to the host Cote d’Ivoire.

Stanley Nwabali – Didn’t have much to do in the game. Commanded his defence well and was quite impressive with his ball distribution….. 7/10

Bright Osayi-Samuel – He was picked by many as one of the weak spot of the defence. However today he elevated his game with well timed tackles and overlapping runs….. 7/10

Zaidu Sanusi – By far the worst player on the pitch. Went to sleep for the goal conceded by Nigeria, provided zero support to the players in attack and above all wasted so many promising opportunities to whip in telling crosses….. 4/10

Calvin Bassey – Dealt with everything that came his way. Slowly becoming one of the leaders of this team but need his partnership with Semi Ajayi to be better than it is at the moment….. 7/10

Semi Ajayi – Took his goal nicely by placing his header with power to an angle away from the goalkeeper. Still not working perfectly with Bassey at the heart of Nigerian defence….. 8/10

Wilfred Ndidi – Broke up a lot of plays and won possession back with ease for Nigeria. His first game as the substantive captain of the team and he didn’t feel the weight of it….. 7/10

Alex Iwobi – Arguably Nigeria’s best player in the game. He was at the centre of every attacking move by the team. Unlucky not to get on the score sheet when his effort skimmed off the bar….. 8.5/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Started the game like a house on fire, but fizzled out in the second half. He could have scored in the first half but overall a very better display than in previous games….. 6.5/10

Ademola Lookman – His goal came out out nothing although he wasted two good chances with poor decision in key moments. Not one of his best games despite scoring the winner….. 7.5/10

Victor Osimhen – A frustrating night for the Galatasaray man who was guilty of poor timing of his runs leading to offside calls against him. Seems to be under so much pressure to deliver and it affected his output….. 6/10

Adams Akor – He had a first half to remember with the way he was ghosting behind his markers. Unfortunate not to score and also denied an assist when Osimhen strayed offside from his cross. Should keep his shirt for the game against Tunisia….. 7/10

Substitutes:

Moses Simon – Immediately took the game to Tanzania and created two big chances. Had the defence of Tanzania on toast and really did his chances of starting the next game a lot of good….. 7/10

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – Played out of position on the right and as expected he struggled to get going. More effective in his traditional role as a midfielder….. 5/10

Paul Onuachu – Didn’t get involved enough to warrant a rating…..

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has made public his starting lineup for today’s AFCON game against Tanzania, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Chelle retained Stanley Nwabali in goal despite doubts over his fitness in the build up to the game. The back four will be the quartet of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi and Calvin Bassey.

Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi will anchor the team’s midfield, which will be behind the four man attack to be Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Jerome Akor.

Starting XI:

Stanley Nwabali

Calvin Bassey

Semi Ajayi

Bright Osayi-Samuel

Zaidu Sanusi

Wilfred Ndidi

Alex Iwobi

Samuel Chukwueze

Ademola Lookman

Victor Osimhen

Jerome Akor

German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen have paused the loan deal of Nigeria international striker Victor Boniface pending the outcome of a knee surgery, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Boniface joined the team on a season long loan deal from Bayer Leverkusen after a failed move to Italian Serie A side AC Milan. A problem with his knee was said to be why the deal to Milan collapsed.

That same issue is now why he has been sent back to his parent club for surgery, and Bremen say they will look for the best solution for all involved before making a decision on the possibility of the 25 year old continuing at the club.

It has been a torrid one year for the forward who was two years ago the hottest property in German football following his arrival from Belgium side USG, winning the rookie of the year award after helping Bayer Leverkusen to a league and cup double with an unbeaten run.

In January, a deal to Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia fell through at the point of payment, with the club opting for Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán, who was even more expensive than the Nigerian.

Daniel Martins

There is confusion in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria on who will be the team’s designated penalty taker at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The team’s designated penalty taker William Troost-Ekong quit international football before the start of the tournament, leaving head coach Eric Chelle with the task of picking a new penalty taker for the team.

So far the best penalty taker in the team is Sevilla’s striker Jerome Akor, who hasn’t missed a spot kick in training, but he isn’t sure of being a regular forcing Chelle to look for another option.

His choice was narrowed to the duo of Moses Simon and Victor Osimhen, but he settled for the latter with Simon now second in the pecking order when it comes to spot kick.

Chelle communicated the decision to the team, but in the event where none of the duo is on the pitch then it will be up to any player who is confident enough to take it , particularly if Akor isn’t on the pitch.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The method used by the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle in picking his starting lineup for today’s AFCON opening game against Tanzania has been made known to OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Super Eagles will open their campaign against the Taifa Stars today , aiming to go a step further than they did like term out when they finished as runners up under former coach Jose Peseiro.

Chelle has already picked his starting lineup for today’s game, and in a chat with our reporter he explained how he came about the choice of players for today’s game.

” It depends on how we want to play and who we are playing. First of all to be a part of the group you have to be playing at your club, or be a part of the team. It’s very important because of the way we play and what we want to build using the game project”, he explained.

” In training we look at the response to instructions, the commitment to doing what we want and how we intend to prosecute the game, and who can help us in certain moments especially in a tournament like the AFCON”, the coach stated.