The battle between Iheanacho, Moffi, Onuachu as Super Eagles face Guinea-Bissau ​

Nigeria will qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire, to be held in January and February 2024 if they defeat Guinea-Bissau over two legs in their qualifying games in the current international window. 

 

The camp of the Super Eagles have come alive in the last 24 hours with virtually all the invited players now in camp. 

 

All Nigeria Soccer have been counting down to the games and we have been presenting the players we feel deserve to get the nod of the head coach in each positions. 

 

Today, we round off the series with a look at the strikers in camp and attempts to answers the question of who plays. 

 

To start with, you can be sure that unless  Victor Osimhen suffers an injury, the Napoli star will surely lead the attack against Guinea-Bissau. 

 

What is not certain is who partners Osimhen, who has scored 21 league goals this season for Serie A champions-elect, Napoli in the Super Eagles attack. 

 

Conversely as has always been the formation in recent memory, Osimhen could play all by himself as the indisputable number 9. 

 

But the question is: in the case of a substitution, which of the other attacking options would be a good fit as replacement for the 2023 Africa, Footballer of the Year award winner. 

 

Three contenders are there in the running. They are Terem Moffi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu. 

 

The other forward players are basically wingers. 

 

Kelechi Iheanacho played a crucial part in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon where he scored a delightful goal against Egypt. 

 

This season in Europe, Terem Moffi is however one of the most in-form strikers in the top five leagues in Europe. 

 

Moffi has notched up 15 goals for both on-loan Ligue 1 side, OGC Nice and parent club, Lorient. 

 

Paul Onuachu only recently joined Premier League bottom side, Southampton and has not been able to replicate his fabulous goal-scoring form for Belgian Pro side, Genk. 

 

For Iheanacho, he has managed to score just thrice in the league thus far, albeit he has made scoring in the FA Cup a second nature and scored three goals in the competition this term. 

 

All Nigeria Soccer verdict:

 

Since Victor Osimhen is the sure starter for both games unless something goes wrong, Moffi, based on current form will be the best choice to lead the attack. 

 

That also suffices when it comes to substitutions from the substitute bench. 

 

However, should head coach, Jose Peseiro opt for a two-pronged striking partnership, Iheanacho who thrives on link up plays and ability to come to the middle of the park to pick loose balls, will be the best option. 

 

Onuachu will need to transform his club form n Belgium into the national team. 

 

Naturally, the expectation is that he should be a dangerous proposition for defences when the wingers supply the ball from crosses where his height will be needed to cause aerial problems. 

                        

Izuchukwu Michael
 

 

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