Nigeria Vs Guinea: AFCON preparatory-match preview
With the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) just around the corner, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Syli National of Guinea in a preparatory-match on Monday, January 8, 2024.
WHEN WILL THE MATCH START
The Nigeria Vs Guinea AFCON preparatory-match international friendly match will start by 1pm on Monday, January 8, 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
Set to take place in the UAE exactly one week before the start of AFCON 2023, this friendly serves as a crucial opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their strategies and gain a morale boost.
THE TEAMS – NIGERIA
Jose Peseiro’s Super Eagles are currently in a training camp in the UAE, gearing up for Africa’s premier football tournament.
The friendly against Guinea promises to be a mouthwatering encounter, offering a preview of the teams’ form ahead of the AFCON campaign. On Sunday, the Eagles crushed a Dubai Club 12-0 but will face a more stern opposition on Monday afternoon.
Nigeria, led by Peseiro, has experimented with various formations in recent outings, including the 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and 4-2-3-1 setups.
While the exact formation for the friendly remains uncertain, it is expected that Francis Uzoho will take his position in goal, with Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface leading the attack.
The predicted lineup in a 4-3-3 formation includes:
Goalkeeper: Francis Uzoho. Defenders: Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi. Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Joe Aribo. Forwards: Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface.
GUINEA
On the opposing side, Guinea’s coach Kaba Diawara is likely to opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ibrahim Kone in goal and Serhou Guirassy as the lone striker. The probable lineup for the Syli National is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Ibrahim Kone. Defenders: Julian Jeanvier, Sekou Sylla, Mouctar Diakhaby, Antoine Conté. Midfielders: Amadou Diawara, Karim Cissé, Mory Konaté, Naby Keita, Facinet Conté. Forwards: Serhou Guirassy.
CONCLUSION
Both teams enter the friendly with their own set of challenges, as Nigeria has struggled in recent friendly matches, winning just one of their last 16, while Guinea has faced three losses in their last six friendlies.
The last encounter between the two nations in June 2019 saw Nigeria emerging victorious in the AFCON group stage with a lone goal.
As the excitement builds for the impending AFCON tournament, football enthusiasts eagerly await this friendly clash, hoping for an entertaining and competitive match between the Super Eagles and the Syli National.
Stay tuned for updates on live-streaming options as they become available
