Iheanacho takes Mikel’s role as Poland deploys 3-4-2-1 formation against Eagles
HEAD coach of Poland, Adam Nawalka may have decided to deploy an unpopular 3-4-2-1 formation against the Super Eagles in today’s pre-world Cup friendly match at the Municipal Stadium.
On his part, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr will hand Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho the No.10 role, usually played by Mikel Obi, in his starting line-up.
Mikel will miss this evening’s encounter in Wroclaw as he is battling to
Joshua hopes to knock out Parker in sixth, eight round
IF 2017 for Anthony Joshua was about becoming the world’s number one heavyweight, 2018 is all about creating his legacy, writes boxingscene.com.
“No one is on the journey anymore,” Joshua said on Wednesday. “We’re at the destination.”
Bold words for someone with just 20 professional fights to his name. Then again, Joshua is no normal boxer.
Potentially within four months, the 28-year-old Brit could be the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000, and the first boxer to hold all four belts in the division - WBA, IBF, WBO and WBC.
Stage 1 comes on March 31 when Joshua, the WBA, IBO and IBF champion, fights WBO titleholder Joseph Parker in front of around 80,000 spectators in Cardiff.
If all goes to plan in the Welsh capital, the fight the world wants to see should be next - Joshua vs. WBC champion Deontay Wilder, a meeting of heavyweight boxing’s two most destructive punchers. renew his work permit in China, but he is expected to join the squad in London for the game against Serbia on Tuesday according to Completesportsnigeria.co m.
According to a camp source, Iheanacho has been playing off centre forward Odion Ighalo in a 4-2-3-1 formation in training and that the Leicester star is expected to keep his place for the World Cup friendly.
“Iheanacho will play Mikel’s position against Poland barring any last minute tactical switch,” the source, a member of the squad, told CSN.
“That’s his preferred role and I think he will do well there. He is solid and quick in his decision making.” The 21-year-old Iheanacho is expected to be the most advanced midfielder ahead of the deeper central midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Ogenyi Onazi for the game.
In the Super Eagles last game against Argentina, Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi were paired in attack as Gernot Rohr deployed a 3-52 formation.
The former Manchester City forward curled in a brilliant free-kick as Nigeria came from a goal down to beat Argentina 4-2 at the Krasnodar Stadium in Russia last November.
Meanwhile, based on Poland’s two workouts at the old l sk Wrocław Stadium, coach Nawalka has opted to deploy an unpopular 3-4-2-1 formation against the Super Eagles, according to allnigeriasoccer.com.
This formation is rather untested and they have not used it except during their friendlies in November 2017 against Uruguay and Mexico in which they failed to score any goal.
‘African Senior Athletics Championship in Asaba will rival IAAF events’
THechairman of the Local Organizing Committee of Asaba 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships, Solomon Ogba has declared that Nigeria will host an event that will be a talking point for world athletics governing body (IAAF) for many years to come.
The Championship will hold between August 1 and 5, 2018.
Ogba told a cross section of Nigerian journalists in Lagos yesterday that the LOC and the Delta State government was working round the clock to stage a befitting championship.
He revealed that the Asaba Stadium was 80 percent ready, adding that by the end of June, the tartan track, floodlight and scoreboard would be installed.
Ogba revealed that media accreditation for the championship will commence from April 1 to July 1, just as he disclosed that 19 countries have already sent in their provisional list of athletes and officials for the championships. ABRAHAM OBOMEYOMA OGBODO “We are looking forward to have a record attendance at the event, and I want every sports loving Nigerian to give full support to this championship. For the first time in the history of this championship, all the countries in Africa will be represented in Asaba.
“We want to set a new standard as far as the Africa Senior Athletics Championships is concerned. The goal is to make this edition as glamorous as the World Championships,” Ogba stated.
• NCAC explains campaign for three million culture-friendly supporters
FORMER Green Eagles defender, Yisa Sofoluwe has advised Coach Gernot Rohr to use the international friendlies against Poland and Serbia to work on certain areas of his team, particularly the defence.
The Super Eagles will meet Poland today in Wrocław before facing Serbia at The Hive in London four days later.
Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Sofoluwe advised Rohr to also work on the team’s midfield and attack saying: “This friendly matches will enable the coach to see the areas of strength and weak points of the players. I expect him to use the matches to strengthen the squad so that Nigeria can come out stronger at Russia 2018 World Cup.”
Also speaking yesterday, assistant coach of Nath Boys FC, Emmanuel Adeniyi urged Rohr to work on all departments of the team to build a strong squad for the World Cup slated for June.
“If the players can work hard and also listen to instructions of the coach, the Eagles will fly high at the World Cup. Football is all about determination and team work,” Adeniyi stated. On his part, Obiakor Henry, a fan of the Super Eagles tasked Rohr to make use of the right players and also give them equal chances to prove their worth. “With these friendly matches against Poland and Serbia, I expect the coach to know the right players to work with. I want our coach to focus more attention on the new players so that the Super Eagles will have a pool of players available at any time. I want the coach to look at the defense and the goalkeeping areas properly,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe yesterday launched a campaign for three million supporters for Super Eagles ahead of the FIFA World Cup holding between June and July in Russia.
The event was attended by Nigerian Football Supporters Club, led by its National President, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, former Green Eagles star, Chief Segun Odegbami, as well as the National President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Alhaji Rabo S. Kareem.
In his remarks, Runsewe pledged NCAC’S commitment to mobilize not less than three million supporters for the Eagles before the commencement of the World Cup.
According to him, the campaign is aimed at creating mass awareness among Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on the importance of the World Cup to Nigeria, adding that it is anchored on #I_supportnigeriasuperea gles.