2023 AFCONQ: The centre-back conundrum facing Peseiro ahead of Sierra Leone clash

The Super of Eagles will kickstart their preparation for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone tomorrow.

Head coach, Jose Peseiro's side need at least a draw to secure their place in the African showpiece next year but they can't afford to take things for granted.

Ahead of the game, Peseiro will have some decisions to make, one of them being the first-choice centre-back pairings.

The centre-backs invited for the game are:Kevin Akpoguma, Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong ,Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi

Calvin Bassey and Kevin Akpoguma struggled against the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau in the first leg in  Abuja and were replaced by Kenneth Omeruo and Semi Ajayi in the second leg.

Omeruo should retain his place as he was decent in the game against the Djurtus and has been consistent with his club side but the headache lies in who partners him.

While it is easy to say that he and Ajayi should continue their partnership having kept a clean sheet against Guinea-Bissau but the match rustiness of the latter and the return of first vice-captain William Troost-Ekong poses a problem.

The last time Ajayi played a competitive game was on the 8th of May which is more than a month ago, can Peseiro afford to trust him in a vital encounter?

A look at the form and fitness of the other centre-backs invited doesn't make Peseiro's task easier.

Troost-Ekong has completed just one game in four months, Bassey is out-of-favour at Ajax, and Akpoguma is just recovering from a thigh injury which kept him out of Hoffenheim's last league game.

Akpoguma is the closest to being fully match fit but he struggled in his last game with the Super Eagles.

Having taken a look at the finesses and form of the centre-backs invited, I believe Omeruo and Ajayi should continue their partnership in the central heart of the defence.

While the West Brom defender isn't fully match-fit, he is in a better condition to start ahead of other options available.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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