Tijani Babangida has pinpointed the Tremendous Eagles’ midfield because the staff’s weakest hyperlink, urging head coach Eric Sekou Chelle to handle the problem forward of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
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The previous winger and Olympic gold medalist, whereas talking on Nigeria’s readiness for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ( AFCON ) stated Nigeria’s assault is loaded with high quality however can’t thrive and not using a purposeful and inventive midfield.
“Having Osimhen, Boniface, Sadiq, Lookman and Chukwueze seems to be superb on paper,” Babangida stated, praising the attacking depth.
He, nonetheless, famous that current performances have uncovered a serious concern.
“I nonetheless bear in mind the sport in opposition to Congo — the midfield of Tremendous Eagles was very poor and there was no provide of balls to the attackers from the second half,” he recalled.
Babangida criticised the overly defensive method of the midfielders in that match.
“Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi performed to defend the staff as an alternative of launching assaults, and the fullbacks did extra defending than becoming a member of the assault,” he added.
The ex-Ajax star pressured that Nigeria’s AFCON ambitions rely on unlocking creativity and stability in midfield.
“Tremendous Eagles want a really sturdy midfield to deliver out the most effective within the attackers,” he emphasised.
He additionally expressed confidence within the new midfielders invited by Chelle.
“I feel the brand new midfielders invited by Chelle could make the midfield very sturdy. A few of them will make the staff and make Tremendous Eagles stronger,” he stated.
Nigeria will compete in Group C in opposition to Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase their first
AFCON title since 2013.
Coach Chelle has named a 54-man provisional squad, with a number of new midfield additions together with Pisa midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, as Nigerians sit up for the discharge of the ultimate squad for the competitors.
