Aina or Ebuehi at right-back and four other questions facing Peseiro pre-AFCONQ

The Super Eagles are set to face São Tomé and Príncipe in the final qualifying game for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

The three-time African champions have booked their place at the upcoming Africa's biggest football competition but still have to avoid a defeat to finish top of the group.

Here are five questions facing José Peseiro ahead of the tie against the Falcons and Parrots team.

1. Restore Francis Uzoho or retain Adebayo Adeleye as the first-choice goalkeeper?: 

Uzoho was absent in the Super Eagles' victory over Sierra Leone due to suspension and Adeleye stood in his stead.

The Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper is more experienced than his counterpart but has not been convincing in goal for the Super Eagles 

This raises the question of who should stand in goal against  São Tomé and Príncipe.

2. Should Semi Ajayi retain his place and if yes, who should partner him in defence?

The West Brom centre-back has started the last two games and it remains to be seen whether he has done enough to convince the coach that he deserves a starting berth in the central heart of defence.

If the answer is in the affirmative, another question that needs to be answered will be who to partner him with Kenneth Omeruo who paired him in the last game missing from the squad.

3. Which of Ola Aina and Tyronne Ebuehi should start as right back:  With the absence of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Aina and Ebuehi are the only natural right full-backs in the squad.

This begs the question of which of the duo will get Peseiro's blessing as the first choice right back for the game.

4. Which of  Jamilu Collins and Bruno Onymechi will start at left-back? With the absence of Zaidu Sanusi from the squad, this leaves a void at the left-back position and the two natural fits for the position are Onyemaechi and Collins.

It will be interesting to see who gets the nod for Sunday's encounter against the São Toméans.

5. Should Osimhen be given a rest? Bar any injury or a terrible run of form, the Napoli striker should lead the line of the Super Eagles at next year's Africa Cup of Nations which means he has no point to prove in this game.

However, new invitees, Gift Orban, Victor Boniface and the duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi have to prove that they deserve a place in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The question facing Peseiro  is whether to stick with the tested and trusted Osimhen or give the above-named forwards a chance to prove themselves

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com