Coach Amokachi has almost wiped the slate clean and will be featuring a slew of newbies in his effort to reinvent and stabilize the problematic back four.
Sharks of Port-Harcourt defender, Chima Akas is the only recognizable anchor on the left as ‘The Bull’ has passed on regular left backs Juwon Oshaniwa and Elderson Echiejile.
On the right it’s pretty much the same where Efe Ambrose has been snubbed, giving opportunity for Leon Balogun and Akeem Latifu to strut their stuff and make believers out of the Eagles fans who have been clamoring for defensive stability long before Rantie embarrassed their team in Uyo in the 2-2 draw with Bafana.
So let’s take an inventory here. Of the seven defenders called up, there are four central defenders, two right backs and a single left back with most of them being untested at the International level.
Make no bones about this, it will be something the hawk-eyed Serbian Coach of the Cranes Milutin Sredojevic is bound to try and take advantage of. He will attack the Green Line shoulder for shoulder and try to serve notice of the physicality of his team right from the opening whistle.
Massa..solid as a rock fast as a Cobra
South Africa’s Rantie the Eagle slayer is smaller and lighter than Geoffrey Massa, but not faster. The Crane number 11 when in form, plays like an Armored Personnel Carrier and one can only shudder to think of what will happen if something befalls Akas.
Just looking at Massa’s laps you can tell his favourite food is a mountain of Posho which he can probably gobble without drinking any water and still play 90 minutes or more of top-notch football. He simply he won’t be pushed off the ball and even if he sees a crack of daylight he will mimic Usain Bolt with the speed with which he will strike.
The million Naira question is will he bring his A game? Nigerian fans despite the danger are hoping he will.
Up front he will be complimented by URA's Robert Ssentongo and St. George's Shakespeare lover Brian Umony meaning the Crane trio of Strikers have a wealth of experience having played with each other for years even before the arrival of Micho. They will be quick to spot and attack any wobbly tire. So the Crane's eggs are not just in one basket.
Against Nigeria they will hope to duplicate if not surpass their amazing performance against the Black Stars of Ghana (below) a team that they almost ran into the ground both in Kampala and Kumasi during the last Afcon qualifications.
So for the new Nigerian defense it will surely be a baptism by fire as they seek to keep in check a team eager to prove to Africa that they have reemerged not just as a regional force, but as a continental one as well.
This will be one heck of a test for the Eagles but they should be buoyed by the knowledge that whatever does not kill you, will only make you stronger.
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