Super Eagles 3-5-2 Formation : Rohr Planning To Deploy Kalu, Simon As Wing-Backs In 2019 AFCON

Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has hinted that Levante's Moses Simon and Bordeaux's Samuel Kalu will be deployed as left and right wing-backs respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations, if he goes with a 3-5-2 formation.

Simon was regularly deployed as a wing-back last season by Levante coach Paco López and Kalu was used as a makeshift right wing-back in the Super Eagles 1-1 draw against South Africa last November.

''We have them (strikers) but we have to drop one of them. Don't forget that we have wingers who can play as fullbacks like we did against South Africa with Kalu who was on the right side, right fullback and a winger the same time,'' Rohr said at Thursday's press conference attended by allnigeriasoccer.com.

''When we play 3-5-2 like we did against Iceland at the World Cup or we did in South Africa, there's also a possibility for Simon Moses to play like he did in his club, on the left side, so we have full backs which is also very good to know tactically.

''And then we have three strikers, Ighalo the goalscorer, we have Osimhen who did well with his club and is one for the future and we have one tall one.

''It is good for me but it is sometimes difficult for me to choose players. But I'm happy to have this good quality, so let's go with offensive spirit to the AFCON because we want to win our games.''

Apart from Kalu and Simon, the other wingers named to Nigeria's provisional roster are Ahmed Musa, Henry Onyekuru, Samuel Chukwueze and the versatile Arsenal star Alex Iwobi.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel