4-3-3:
*****************************************Onuachu**********************************
*****************Kalu********************************Chukwueze******************
****************************************Iwobi (c)***********************************
*****************************Ejuke*************Onyeka****************************
***Sanusi**************Akpoguma***************Ajayi****************Ebuehi***
****************************************Yakubu**************************************
My justification:
[1] None of the other goalkeepers is seeing regular first team action at the top flight, so Matthew Yakubu’s position was never going to be in question
[2] Now that he is back to full fitness, Tyronne Ebuehi will get the nod over Ola Aina at rightback any day
[3] Zaidu Sanusi is also the only real leftback in Austria
[4] With Ekong playing in the English Championship and Omeruo playing the Spanish second tier, they are both clearly not as good as we thought they were. Ekong in particular needs to realise that his actions are unacceptable as having Nigeria’s skipper play in the second tier of English football is an insult to 200m Super Eagles fans. He should ask himself if that would be acceptable in England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, etc. Would they ever tolerate their skipper playing in the second division?
[5] Awaziem too could only get a loan deal to lowly Boavista, while Balogun is way past his best. At a time when clubs are desperate for centrebacks, I am perplexed that our boys are not picking offers out of their teeth. This just tells me that we hype our players way beyond how good they are
[6] Only Semi Ajayi and Kevin Akpoguma are playing regular top flight football at the moment. I would use these two matches to build a solid central defensive partnership between then. If anyone wants to challenge for a spot, they should go and sort out their club situation first
[7] In the absence of Ndidi, Aribo and Etebo we have no other options in central midfield other than Ejuke and Onyeka. This would actually be a great opportunity to see how good they are. I would later bring on 18 year old Samson Tijani for either of them to see how he copes
[8] In the absence of Kelechi Nwakali and Ebere Eze, Alex Iwobi is the only playmaker we have. Being the most senior and most recognised player in the squad, I would give him the armband
[9] With Osimhen not around, the fight for the number nine shirt was always going to be a two-horse race between Dessers and Onuachu. I would start with Onuachu because of his current blistering form
[10] Out wide, Chukwueze and Kalu are by far our two best players. For me, only Henry Onyekuru can really challenge either of them
