Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-25 04:43:55
Super Eagles Coach, Finidi George, is anticipating a tougher challenge from Mali in their upcoming match compared to the game against Ghana in Morocco. Nigeria emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Ghana in their last friendly match, and they will now face Mali in their second match of the FIFA window.
For the game against Ghana, George decided to use some new players to avoid overloading those who had significant game time during the previous Africa Cup of Nations. He plans to continue giving opportunities to players who didn’t feature much against Ghana to secure a permanent place in the squad. However, there are concerns about the availability of defender Kenneth Omeruo for the Mali game due to injury, and his fitness will be assessed just before kickoff.
In addition to Omeruo, Calvin Bassey has left the Eagles’ camp to attend to an injury concern at his club, Fulham. Despite these absences, there is a renewed sense of excitement in the team, with players feeling relieved to showcase their abilities without the constraints they felt during the AFCON.
In the game against Ghana, the Super Eagles deviated from their usual 3-4-3 formation and opted for a 3-5-2 setup. Some key players returned to the starting lineup, while a new addition, Benjamin Tanimu, made his debut for the team in defense.
Looking ahead to the Mali game, George mentioned the possibility of introducing new players to provide some fresh energy and options for the team. Mali, a rising team since 2023, aims to use this match as a test for their emerging talents ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with Coach Eric Chelle opting to give other players a chance in the absence of midfield star, Yves Bissouma.
Despite missing several players from their AFCON squad, Mali still boasts quality talent, including captain Hamari Toure, full back Traore from Real Sociedad, midfielder Amadou Haidara from RB Leipzig, and attacker El Bilal Toure from Atalanta. Chelle emphasized that his squad selection was based on current form and that Bissouma could still make a return in the future.
Both teams are set to use this friendly match as preparation for their upcoming international competitions, and the clash promises to be an exciting encounter with new faces aiming to make a mark on the field. George and Chelle will be looking to test their strategies and assess their players’ performances as they continue building towards future success.
