Gernot makes dramatic changes for tonight's game against Iceland dropping Ighalo and Iwobi

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr is reported to have taken the axe to his team and made wholesale dramatic changes ahead of tonight's game against Iceland including switching to a 3-5-2 formation and dropping Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo.

 

In a high risk strategy, Coach Rohr appears to have gone for broke following the criticism of his selection against Croatia in the opening game and brought in Kenneth Omeruo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa. he has abandoned the 4-2-3-1 formation and in another radical move has switched Chelsea's Victor Moses to the right wingback position which he plays for his club.

 

Rightback Shehu Abdullahi who offered very little offensively against Croatia in the first game has been dropped alongside Iwobi and Ighalo. Omeruo, Leon Balogun and William Ekong will play as the three centrebacks, with Moses and Bryan Idowu as the wingbacks, joined in midfield by Mikel obi, Wilfred Ndidi and Oghene Etebo.

 

Upfront, Musa and Iheanacho have been given the task of finding the back of the net in a high-risk gamble that involves playing without a targetman. Given that tonight's match is a must-win, Coach Rohr has decided to go for broke and stick his neck on the line with a formation that may or may not work.

 

Already, Argentine striker Sergio Aguero has sent a passionate plea to the Super Eagles to save their World Cup hopes by beating Iceland when both teams clash today. Argentina are facing the possibility of an early exit from the World Cup after suffering a heavy 0-3 loss against Croatia last night, leaving them with just a point from two games as they drew their opening game 1-1 against Iceland.

 

A win for Nigeria today against Iceland will no doubt keep their hope of qualifying alive and according to Aguero ‎that is the most important result for them now before they play the Super Eagles on Tuesday in their final group game. Aguero who was substituted in the loss to Croatia has publicly criticised coach Jorge Sampaoli.

 

Aguero said: "The defeat against Croatia makes me sad and angry ‎but there’s another chance as we depend on others. We did everything we could but now let’s hope for a miracle or something like that.

 

"We have to wait on Nigeria to do us a favour against Iceland and then try to beat them when we play them in our last group game."

 

Line up for tonight:

Francis Uzoho

Kenneth Omeruo

William Troost-Ekong

Leon Balogun

Victor Moses

Bryan Idowu

Mikel Obi

Oghenekaro Etebo

Wilfred Ndidi

Kelechi Iheanacho

Ahmed Musa

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