Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro is grappling with a complex selection dilemma as the national team gears up for its forthcoming friendly fixtures against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique, scheduled for October 13th and 16th, respectively.
The Portuguese tactician extended invitations to eight formidable forwards, all of whom were in splendid form and eager to make their mark. This scenario has left fans and pundits alike pondering a single question: “Who will make it into Peseiro’s starting lineup?”
The eight talented forwards summoned to the squad include Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi, Terem Moffi, and Victor Boniface.
Peseiro has displayed a penchant for a four-striker formation, featuring two wingers and two center-forwards. This formation suggests that all eight forwards may have a chance to feature in the upcoming matches. In the previous match against Sao Tome and Principe in September, Iheanacho and Lookman operated on the flanks while Osimhen and Awoniyi manned the central attacking positions.
The Super Eagles’ coaching staff faces the daunting task of selecting the ideal combination of forwards to maximize the team’s offensive prowess and secure favorable results in these critical friendly fixtures.
With the friendly matches three days apart, the Portuguese manager will have a chance to shuffle his pack, and with the form, nearly everyone is in, he can hardly go wrong with any team he fields.
Iheanacho has been in fine form for Leicester City this season, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 11 appearances, while Simon has been a key player for FC Nantes this season, with two goals and three assists in seven appearances in the French Ligue 1. Lookman has also been among the goals for Atalanta after a slow start, scoring two goals in their last three games.
Despite finding himself in the middle of a club controversy, Osimhen has been impressive for Napoli with five goals scored in seven games and sits second in the Serie A top scorers list. For Nottingham Forest, Awoniyi has been superb with three goals and two assists in seven games. Moffi shares the same stats as Awoniyi for OGC Nice, both scoring the same number of goals and providing the same amount of assists.
With 11-goal contributions in just eight games, Boniface has been the most in-form Eagle in Europe this season. The 22-year-old has scored eight goals and provided three assists across the Bundesliga, Europa League, and DFB-Pokal for Leverkusen.
New Milan signing Chukwueze is still enduring a slow start in Italy, failing to score or provide an assist in seven appearances for the Rossoneri, albeit only starting one game.
It remains to be seen who Peseiro will pick for the starting line-up against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. With so many talented forwards to choose from, it’s going to be a tough decision. However, one thing is certain — whoever Peseiro picks will be eager to make an impact and help the Super Eagles secure a victory and extend their three-game winning run.
