The senior national team of Nigeria will campaign at the Africa Cup of nations without one of their main forwards in Victor Boniface, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury as exclusively reported by OwnGoalNigeria.com.
23 year old Boniface has been a revelation for Bayer Leverkusen with ten goals and seven assists in the German Bundesliga since his move to the team from Belgium side Union Saint-Gilloise. He is part of the reason why they are top of the table.
His absence has forced head coach Jose Peseiro into a rethink as he was prime to partner Victor Osimhen in the attack of the team in the favorite 4-4-2 formation of the coach.
Per what we exclusively gathered there is a likelihood that the team will return to playing 4-3-3 with only one top striker in Osimhen. They will play the two man attack in games they are chasing.
Ademola Lookman for now is the favorite to play alongside Osimhen, a role he is well accustomed to at his Serie A side Atalanta. Peseiro doesn’t see Sadiq Umar and Terem Moffi who was called up as Boniface’s replacement as strikers who can play in a two man attack.
Kelechi Iheanacho would have been the obvious choice but he is more suited to playing the Leicester City man wide on the right, where he cuts in on his stronger foot and take advantage of his ability to strike the ball with venom.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
