Afrigather Within the months main as much as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria’s Tremendous Eagles have been hailed because the match favourites, primarily on account of an abundance of high quality strikers underneath the helm of head coach Jose Peseiro.
Reward Orban’s stellar performances for KAA Gent, Paul Onuachu’s resurgence with Trabzonspor, Akor Adams lighting up the French Ligue 1 for Montpellier, Terem Moffi’s wonderful shows for OGC Good, and the unstoppable Victor Boniface wreaking havoc within the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen made Nigeria’s assault the envy of many.
The record prolonged to Cyriel Dessers at Glasgow Rangers, Umar Sadiq scoring world-class targets for Actual Sociedad, Chuba Akpom’s prolific scoring at Ajax Amsterdam, Kelechi Iheanacho’s pivotal position at Leicester Metropolis, and Taiwo Awoniyi’s spectacular shows for Nottingham Forest in opposition to prime Premier League sides.
Nonetheless, the primary signal of hassle surfaced in December when Awoniyi sustained an damage enjoying for Forest.
It was a significant setback for coach Peseiro. Nonetheless, with ample backups, the Portuguese tactician remained assured.
Iheanacho then suffered a knock that stored him out of a few Leicester’s matches within the Championship in the identical month. The previous Manchester Metropolis ahead, although, maintained he would shake off the damage properly earlier than the AFCON kicked off.
Surprisingly, Peseiro’s ultimate 25-man squad for the AFCON featured solely 4 center-forwards, together with the recuperating Iheanacho.
This improvement fueled speculations and later experiences that the NFF inspired a bigger squad, a transfer that coach Peseiro allegedly rejected. The narrative shifted when extra accidents started to plague the crew.
The blow intensified as Boniface suffered a groin damage throughout the crew’s week-long coaching camp within the United Arab Emirates.
The Bayer Leverkusen ahead left for Germany instantly for surgical procedure, whereas Terem Moffi, his substitute, faces delays in becoming a member of the squad.
The OGC Good ahead is ready to be unavailable for Nigeria’s opening match in opposition to Equatorial Guinea.
The unfolding disaster reached new heights when Umar Sadiq succumbed to damage on Thursday, casting doubt on his participation within the AFCON.
Trabzonspor’s Onuachu, who scored his ninth league purpose of the Turkish league season tonight, has emerged as his potential substitute.
Onuachu and Moffi will look to contribute their quota to Nigeria’s success after they finally land in Cote d’Ivoire.
The duo will, nonetheless, want time to get into the groove of the Eagles’ tactical set-up as they weren’t a part of the preparations within the Abu Dhabi camp.
Iheanacho’s rehabilitation efforts offered a glimmer of hope, however his participation in Nigeria’s opening match versus the Nationwide Thunder stays unsure.
By Sunday afternoon, when Nigeria tackle Equatorial Guinea, Victor Osimhen will doubtless be the solitary center-forward within the Tremendous Eagles squad, a horrible state of affairs for a crew that when boasted the very best assault line on the continent.
Nigeria’s as soon as meticulously deliberate AFCON marketing campaign now seems in disarray, removed from the envisaged onslaught, and the nation’s soccer fanatics are left grappling with an appalling actuality.
The main target now shifts to safeguarding Victor Osimhen in any respect prices.
His administration, health, and coaching routine should be meticulously calculated to mitigate damage dangers.
Something befalling him may extinguish Nigeria’s final flickering hopes of clinching the 2023 AFCON trophy.
