00:00 What's up, Becero? I speak on behalf of over 200 million Super Eagles fans when I say that
00:08 qualification for the FIFA World Cup in 2006 is not negotiable. Here's a preview of our
00:14 first qualifier game. This time it's against Lesotho. It happens on Thursday and of course
00:19 we'll talk about that game in this episode. Here is me welcoming you to the nutmeg on
00:25 Guardian TV.
00:26 And of course we will get talking about the business of today which is the game between
00:43 Lesotho and the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Olani Aduluwa is here again to join this conversation
00:49 and of course where better to start of all conundrums than the midfield. It looks really
00:54 lean for me. The midfield options that Ozepecero has to pick from because he's called up
01:01 four players in that department and it's not looking ideal for me.
01:07 For everything that Ozepecero has done so far, I must commend him for one thing. He
01:11 experiments a lot and I would like to think this as an experiment. Yes, I would prefer
01:20 an experiment against Lesotho than an experiment against Algeria or Egypt.
01:25 Or the Senegalese.
01:26 Or the Senegalese, no. If it's against Lesotho, he can still try new stuff. The last game
01:31 we played, we could see him using the 4-2 formation, just using two midfielders. Although
01:38 we also saw the lapse in it. They suffered in the middle of the pack. But he has brought
01:41 in Rafael Ojedika and also Frank Ojedika. Rafael Ojedika especially, anchoring the middle
01:48 of the pack, especially with the absence of Wilfred Ndidi. It's quite painful that we
01:53 don't have the experience, legs of Wilfred there. But he can still cook something with
01:59 this.
02:00 You believe so?
02:01 I think.
02:02 So in terms of what he could cook, we know Alex Iwobi from all the games that have been
02:05 played on that Ozepecero. Alex Iwobi is a name on the starting lineup for Nigeria. But
02:13 who do you pair with him now? Because whoever you're bringing in is most likely inexperienced
02:17 when it comes to combining with Alex Iwobi. And this is a big deal because we're going
02:22 into a qualifier game. It's quite important.
02:25 I would like to pick this reform. Look at the players based on performances. That unfortunately
02:32 puts Joaribo out of this list. I think he would do well with a double pilot of Frank
02:38 Ojedika and Rafael Ojedika. And Alex Iwobi as an attacking midfielder, that is if he
02:43 wants to go with a three-man midfield setup, Alex Iwobi would not really be bothered with
02:47 the defensive aspect of the game. Just trying to do things at the final third. While Ojedika
02:54 and Rafael will be able to show things in the middle of the park, making sure that defensively
02:59 they are covered and also ensuring that superiority is instilled in the middle of the park. But
03:04 he can go with that. He can also choose to go with two midfielders like the 4-2-4 he
03:09 has played earlier on. Or he can even choose to go with a 4-4-2. A certain Nathan Taylor
03:14 is also available for him right now.
03:16 Yes, good for him. Let's see if the young man can get a debut.
03:18 So if he decides to introduce Nathan Taylor, he can also introduce him as a wing option.
03:26 A wide forward.
03:28 Which makes a lot of sense. Especially when you can now have a Simon on the left, Nathan
03:34 Taylor on the right.
03:35 On paper, these are interesting variations. We can actually go on and on speculating.
03:41 But it's up to us. One part of the pitch that we cannot speculate anymore is definitely
03:47 the goalkeeping department. And this time, Madga Okoye has been called back into the
03:53 squad. That would definitely raise a lot of eyebrows. It's no surprise that it would.
03:59 But particularly for their club sides, for what is ideal as one of the top sides in Africa,
04:06 around by FIFA, these players are not looking like they are in the mood. And we've seen
04:12 a lot of oral shows time and again. Who should be starting in this particular encounter against
04:18 Lesotho? And even going forward, because when you look at it, all the games ahead are quite
04:23 important games.
04:24 Since Jose Pesero has decided to give Francis Ozuo minutes with the national team, Jesse,
04:33 minutes that he's not getting with his club. He's the lesser one of the two evils. We
04:39 have the evil of Olonleke, who is untested. And I don't think he's reliable enough to
04:47 just be introduced into the starting line-up ahead of Okoye and Francis Ozuo.
04:54 My worry is for untested options, quote-unquote, there are a number of them that could have
04:59 been tested before now, probably in the last friendlies. I mean, Nwatu Bulu of Freiburg,
05:04 we're talking Arthur Okonkwo, the Arsenal loonie in Rexham, we're talking Amas Obastoja,
05:10 even options from within the Niger Premier Football League. You're looking at Chris
05:15 Nwoke from Sporting Lagos. I mean, these are on paper decent options. But now I just feel
05:23 that time to test them is long gone.
05:26 I think one thing Jose Pesero is trying to do is he's trying to maintain a core. There
05:31 are certain players he's calling. He's trying to like, okay, these people are already used
05:35 to the way we train. They are used to the synergy of it. He's not open-minded into introducing
05:40 new players into the team. And it's a worry for me, especially in this goalkeeping situation.
05:45 Francis Ozuo, for me, is unreliable. Maluka Okoye is unreliable. I don't see us going
05:51 to the AFCON with confidence with any of these two players as our goalkeeping option. And
05:58 it's really sad. That's how bad it is. Adebayo Adele, unfortunately, is in Israel because
06:02 of the ongoing crisis there. I don't think he can. That's why he probably did not make
06:07 it into the squad. But if we had an Adebayo Adele, who had earlier on also advocated for,
06:14 I wish Israel was at peace. If not, it would have been starting. At least it would have
06:18 been said this is the only player that's outside the shadow of Africa is really, really
06:22 seeing playing time. We can't say the same with Francis Ozuo. We can't say the same with
06:26 Maluka Okoye.
06:27 You know, you managed to mention, you know, the ongoing war between the Israeli and the
06:32 Palestine. We wish everybody's safe there. And we just send our thoughts. But then let's
06:37 keep talking about Nigeria in perspective now. Lesotho and Nigeria in history, recent
06:43 history of this game. In fact, we faced them only twice. And it was two wins for the Super
06:49 Eagles. One in 2019 was a 4-2 victory. And then 3-0 in the most recent encounter was
06:55 a victory for Super Eagles as well as that's in 2021. And something is consistent about
07:01 these two fixtures. We won. But not just that, there were some certain players on the score
07:06 sheet. Victor Osimene on the score sheet in both games. And so was Samuel Chikweze. Even
07:12 Colonel Achoo scored a fantastic acrobatic effort over the weekend. He was also a name
07:21 on the score sheet by that time. But of course, we don't have these players now. Are we going
07:25 to be missing them? It's my worry. And also, what do you think, you know, the options that
07:32 we have and the options we don't have potent for this qualifier game? Is it a walkover?
07:38 One thing I know is it's Lesotho. I think the absence of Samuel Chikweze and Victor Osimene
07:43 should not limit our ability to score. We have potent options. I'm still skeptical about
07:50 the fact that Gifte Urban is not on this list. And then there's Sadi Kumaru who has barely
07:57 played over 300 minutes in La Liga. But we still have options. Kelechi Enacho, ever reliable
08:03 in the colours of the Nigerian Super Eagles. Victor Boniface, who is expected to do the
08:08 work in the absence of his Egbon Victor, that is Osimene. And Tere Morphy, not really in
08:16 his usual self. At least proven in some respect in the colours of the Super Eagles, even if
08:20 he's not in his usual self, as you say. One thing I like about Tere Morphy is he's a striker
08:26 quite alright, but he can drop deep and play with the middle of the park. And he can also,
08:31 you know, play as a supporting striker. He can play with a proper number 9. He can play
08:35 with a Taiwa One, he can play with a Victor Boniface. He's someone that I like the way
08:40 he plays. Simon also, someone that can cause trouble on the left flank. I think in attack,
08:47 in the absence of a face, we are covered. We have a plethora of options. Yes, yes. That's
08:50 not a concern. I mean, we've talked about the concerns, you know, earlier in the episode.
08:56 But then let's have your score prediction. The game is on Thursday. And what do you reckon
09:01 will be the end of it? 4-2. Repeat of the 2019 result. Why are you going 4-2? Why? As
09:11 much as I trust the defence. You trust the defence? Yeah, I think we have very good options
09:17 in defence to do the job. I don't trust the goalkeeping department. Against Saudi Arabia,
09:23 we could have as well won the game. It was all not from Boudi's goalpost. Just an episode
09:31 of the hours that we get. This is like a season film. I know who will score. I know who will
09:37 score. Four goals. I think four goals. I expect four goals. This is Victor Boniface's chance
09:41 to shine. You've really been doing so well with Bayan Leverkusen. Yeah, he scored also
09:46 in the last friendlies too. You also really introduced yourself nicely to the national
09:50 team set-up. I think Kedichi Yinacho can get on the score sheet. Victor Boniface can also
09:55 get on the score sheet. Moses Simon is a reliable option. He just depended on South Africa.
09:59 I wanted to take it. That's the only thing I can depend on Moses Simon. But I think he
10:03 can offer more. On the contrary. On the flank, he can dribble and all. Yeah, a lot more.
10:08 He brings a lot more. I prefer him. That's the only thing I know he can do well. But
10:12 apart from that, as long as Fazio Zou is our goalkeeper, or Malika Okoye, we are going
10:16 to concede. That one is sure. Well, it looks like a certainty with Adeoluwa that they will
10:21 concede. But then something consistent in his words is that they would win. And that
10:26 is the best for Nigerians and for the Super Eagles faithful. Thank you very much for watching
10:32 this episode right here on Guardian Nigeria. You can also join our community, follow our
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10:43 of the nutmeg and even all the packages that we have for you by hitting the notification
10:48 bells as well. Thank you very much for watching. Thank you very, very much, Ade, for making
10:53 it right here on the nutmeg. It's always a pleasure, Ewa. And thank you for watching.
10:58 I'll see you in the next episode. For now, it's goodbye and God bless.
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