Super Eagles set to settle for back four vs Rwanda

The Super Eagles look set to play with a back four against Rwanda tomorrow in a final 2025 AFCON qualifier to round up their successful campaign in style and also sound a big warning going into next year’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen blamed “individual errors” for a laboured 1-1 draw with Benin in Abidjan Thursday without going into more details.

He also revealed that he used three different formations before the team could salvage a draw in Abidjan – 3-5-2, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2.

The three-man defence served the Super Eagles in their run to the final of the 2023 AFCON earlier this year.

However, when they had to chase the game after conceding early against Benin, Eguavoen had to haul off debutant Gabriel Osho (a direct replacement for injured Semi Ajayi) for the team to revert to a back four of full backs Ola Aina, Bruno Onyemaechi as well as the central defence pairing of Calvin Bassey and William Ekong.

In the absence of Ola Aina, the caretaker coach is now most likely to start Fenerbachce defender Bright Osayi-Samuel at right fullback.

It is now left to be seen whether he will also go for a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, which had Victor Boniface coming in to support Victor Osimhen in attack.

Eguavoen will also be forced to make at least three changes to the starting XI against Benin following the withdrawal of Ola Aina, Stanley Nwabali and Ademola Lookman.