Five Things Oliseh Will Do When Nigeria Tackles Congo

Nigeria tackles Congo on Thursday October 8 in Brussels, Belgium and coach Sunday Oliseh would spring some obvious surprises.

To the ordinary eye this changes mean nothing but let it be known that the likely upcoming changes to the team will make or mar Oliseh’s reign at the helm.

The Super Eagles in training

1. Carl Ikeme goal and Ahmed Musa as captain: Probably the most obvious of changes that will occur to the team. Following the now infamous row between Oliseh and Vincent Enyeama, it seems Carl Ikeme would earn another shot at winning the hearts of Nigerians.
Ikeme was impressive n his debut against Tanzania last month and with Oliseh calling up Alampasu it looks more and more likely Ikeme will return in goal.
Ahmed Musa will also captain the team after Oliseh critized Enyeama for a lack of character. How this will influence players is yet to be known. Enyeama will definately have his loyalist as a senior and respected member of the squad while Oliseh will also have his loyalists.

Super Eagles training

Is a row the most capped player in Nigeria’s history the best for way to instill discipline in the Super Eagles? The matches against Congo and Cameroon will tell.
2. A more attacking midfield: In the matches against Tanzania and Niger, the two deep midfielders were hardly ever seen in the opponents half. You would not blame Oliseh for instructing them to sit back a little. He didn’t want to concede silly goals in hiss first two matches as coach and more so he had limited tools.
It was all about giving the balls to the wingers and having them run at goal – Moses Simon was always doing this much to the annoyance of many.
With Mikel Oi back in the squad, be sure to see Mikel attack as he does for the Super Eagles. Also Ogenyi Onazi is expected to start and if he does he does not fear to have a crack at goal though most times he is off target.
Also if Oliseh decides to play Onazi and Mikel as a double pivot, it is likely the the Lukman Haruna surrendered number 10 role will go to a more attacking player most likely Rabiu Ibrahim.
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3. Telling the fullbacks to attack more: Just like the double pivot midfielders in Oliseh’s first two matches, the fullbacks hardly ever attacked. With the return of the marauding Elderson Echiejile, The Eagles will have a more attacking outlook.
Moses Simon will not have to run always, Musa can work will a full-back, be it Efe Ambrose or William Ekong.

Elderson is greatly under-appreciated in Nigeria but the AS Monaco fullback is sound offensively and defensively. Whoever plays will be asked to support the wingers but also be told to remember their defensive duties.
4. Introducing Odion Ighalo as the new center forward: Odion Ighalo has been one of the shining light in a rather gloomy start to the English top flight for Watford. Oliseh dropped the former Granada man for the matches against Tanzania and Niger but he will most likely start in favour of the increasingly frustrating Emmanuel Emenike.
Ighalo is a sharp striker and one with better composure than anyone Oliseh invited and he need to be given the chance to shine.
5. Introducing new debutants: There are few in the current squad who were yet to play for the Eagles. Oliseh has shown he is not afraid to introduce new players. He did it with Carl Ikeme and was greatly rewarded. Usman Mohammed also shone after replacing Lukman Haruna in that match against Tanzania.
Alex Iwobi will definately play for Nigeria at one point or the other. He has to play for the senior team to have a chance of representing the U-23 team as FIFA rules state he cannot play for the youth teams of two countries, he will represent the senior team to be eligible for selection in the dream team.

Alex Iwobi

Alampasu is another who will most likely play his first game for Nigeria. Enyeama’s falling out with Oliseh means he would most likely not play and the upcoming matches being friendlies means he would most likely be rotated with Carl Ikeme.
The Super Eagles play the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 8 and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon three days later, in Belgium.