WHO SHOULD START THE EAGLE'S LINE? IHEANACHO OR IGHALO

Ighalo or Iheanacho: Who Should Lead the Line for Nigeria against Algeria?

Super Eagles of Nigeria's first choice striker Odion Ighalo has returned to the squad to face
Algeria in the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo, having missed the first game against Zambia, which the Eagles won by 2 -1 via goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi.

On this Pilot Episode of Counter-attack, Fcnaija's Okanga Okangaand Jide Alaka debate on whether the Watford marksman should be restored to the starting 11 in place of Ideye Brown or whether Manchester City striker, Iheanacho, should lead the line.

Don't forget to join the debate with your comments on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+.

The Counter-attack

It cannot be argued that Kelechi Iheanacho has been on a hot streak for Nigeria – four in his last four matches but that alone should not be the reason why the Manchester City teenager should lead the line against Algeria.

Every match has its own tactical preparation and one important thing that Gernot Rohr would have noticed is that he needs a physical presence to make a dent on the Algerian side’s central defence.

No one disputes that Iheanacho is a brilliant finisher. But the truth is, you don't just have to be a number 9 to score goals. Iheanacho goals for the Super Eagles have come without playing as the central striker. Who is to say that he would actually do better as a center forward or focal point?

It is not uncommon to have a player play out of position, so to speak for a team if it best serves the interest of that team. For instance, Lionel Messi is one of the two best goal scorers in the world and for years played mostly as a striker for FC Barcelona.

That was when Barcelona had all of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Dani Alves as suppliers from the centreand from the flank. However, when it comes to the Argentina national team, due to the paucity of elite creators, Messi tends to play deeper, in order to make the best use of his creative instincts.

It is something that has happened a lot more with Barcelona especially last season where playwas channeled through Luis Suarez, who played more as a conduit than as a central striker. Another example is Portugal playing Ronaldo through the middle for years because they lacked a genuine center forward. There are many others. It all depends on the needs of the team and the available options.

For years since the decline and eventual retirement of Jay-Jay Okocha, the Nigerian national team has cried out for an attacking midfielder who is capable of creating chances and linking midfield with attack effortlessly. Players like Wilson Oruma, albeit in his twilight, Christian Obodo and for the longer term, John Obi Mikel have all tried to fill Jay-Jay's gigantic boots, to little avail.

At the 2013 AFCON, which Nigeria won, Sunday Mba, came in and did a great job with his game-winning efforts from midfield. However, he also turned out to be a flash in the pan and has since disappeared. Mikel, on his part, despite his early potential, has only been a reliable link-man at the 2016 Olympics.

 

Regrettably, the captain doesn't seem to carry the same sharpness that he displayed in that tournament as he looks to be suffering from a lack of match fitness as a result of his endless absence from the Chelsea team. The only person who has proved most competitive in the hole is Iheanacho. 

Nigeria is blessed with a number of fairly good strikers, especially Ahmed Musa, Ideye Brown and of course, Odion Ighalo. Ighalo inparticular, is of great significance because he fits into Rohr's tactical system. He can press from the front, he can bully and out-muscle defenders, he can create space for others like Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, and Victor Moses and, most importantly he CAN score.

He has been a consistent goal scorer [despite his current goals drought] for the past few years of his career and this dip in form can only be temporary. And just maybe the Uyo crowd will revive his scoring spirit. Even if Ighalo does not get to score, he can make the sacrifice as the target man for the likes of Iheanacho to do the scoring.

The Super Eagles need all the physical presence they can summon and Ighalo has tons of that. Iheanacho will benefit from having him on the field just as he did with Brown.

Playing Iheanacho, as the number 9 would also mean changing from a system that has been working to one that is untested, in such a crucial game. Only a tinker-man would go that far to speculate. That line of action would also amount to choosing disruption rather over construction. I believe we ought to leave things as they are. Bring in Ighalo as a pair to Ideye and let Iheanacho run things from a No.10 position.