Afcon 2023: Peseiro may play Musa as a support striker to Osimhen due to injuries to Boniface and others

Injuries to Sadiq Umar, Victor Boniface, and Kelechi Iheanacho may force Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro, to play captain Ahmed Musa as support striker to Victor Osimhen as the Super Eagles play their first group game of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon ) against Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria has only one fit striker Victor Osimhen with Umar and Boniface are injured and Iheanacho all out of the first game.

Umar and Boniface were replaced by the duo of Paul Onuachu and Terem Moffi.

However, the late call-ups are unlikely to make it on time for the opening game.

Also, Iheanacho who is recovering from a knock, is expected to fly in from the UK on Saturday a day before the game, which effectively rules him out of the match.

During the team’s training session on Friday, Osimhen was kept aside from all physical contact; a precautionary move as the only fit striker on the team.

He was also instructed to avoid going into any tackle or aggressive contact in the team’s remaining training sessions ahead of the game.

Team Captain, Musa, was deployed to the role of a backup striker.

Initially picked to play in his natural role as a winger, Musa is now expected to go into the first game as the deputy striker in the absence of Moffi, Iheanacho, and Onuachu.

The three-time African champions will begin their quest for a fourth title on Sunday against Equatorial Guinea, before facing Cote d’Ivoire on January 18.

Their last group game is against Guinea-Bissau on January 22, 2023.