Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau: Osimhen in attack, Uzoho in goal but no Iheanacho

Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro is expected to name Victor Osimhen in attack as Nigeria take on Guinea-Bissau in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday. 

The Super Eagles will take on Djurtus in a doubleheader, knowing a win and a draw will be enough to book their spot in next year’s competition. 

Nigeria will host the first leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Friday, March 24, with the return leg set for Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro. 

Peseiro is expected to name a strong side for the clash on Friday, although he will be without his vice-captain William Troost-Ekong and his defensive partner Leon Balogun, who are not in the squad due to injury. 

Nonetheless, Peseiro can still call on the services of his regular players. In goal, Francis Uzoho is expected to face no competition in the absence of Maduka Okoye. 

With Ekong and Balogun out, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi are likely to be Peseiro’s centre-back pairing. 

Ola Aina is out of the game, so Bright Osayi-Samuel will likely make his home debut at right-back. Zaidu Sanusi arrived at camp late, but he is the only recognised left-back in the squad. 

Peseiro is expected to play a 4-3-3 formation, so the midfield trio will likely be Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo, even though the latter has struggled for game time at his club. 

The front three is an easy decision for Peseiro to make. Osimhen is expected to bring his club form to the national team as he leads the line. 

Meanwhile, Ademola Lookman, who is also having a good season in Italy, will play on the left. Finally, Villarreal’s in-form winger Samuel Chukwueze will play from the right, meaning there is no space for Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho. 

Nice forward Terem Moffi also misses out despite scoring 15 goals in Ligue 1 this season. 

Uzoho, Bassey, Ajay, Osayi-Samuel, Sanusi, Ndidi, Aribo, Iwobi, Lookman, Osimhen, Chukwueze