Should Eric Chelle Adopt a 4-2-4 Formation Against Mozambique in the Afcon Round of 16?

The similarities between Eguavoen-tutored Super Eagles of 2022 - you know the one, of course you do, raising expectations to higher heavens and dashing it in the pit of Tunisia in Afcon round of 16 - and Chelle's Afcon class of 2025 are far more glaring than one would imagine.

In the last group stage match against Uganda, the Super Eagles played with a 4-2-4 formation with one attacking midfielder partnering one defensive midfielder in the middle: similar to Eguavoen's Aribo-Ndidi combo.

The wafer thin midfield infrastructure lost the Tunisian who powered through to power a dagger straight into the heart of Nigeria's ambitions, similar, isn't it similar to to how the Ugandan stole behind Dele-Bashiru and Onyedika to tarnish what would have been a perfect performance on the night.

Now I see why Chelle chooses to play a less glamorous but defensively pragmatic Frank Onyeka ahead of Onyedika and Dele-Bashiru (both far more offensively astute) in key encounters.

4-2-4 failed Eguavoen in 2022. Will Chelle retain this formation with its midfield frailties against Mozambique in the round of 16?

This formation will get you goals, no doubt. What, with Ajayi and Bassey's picture perfect long balls from deep and the ruthlessness of Lookman, Osihmen, Simon, and Adams, the heavens will rain an avalanche of goals alright.

But, will we always be able to outscore opponents? We failed to outscore Congo DR who cut supplies to our lethal forwards by strangling our already fragile midfield.

Chelle might elect to use another formation, I hope he does. He previously used 4-1-3-2 (a variant of the diamond 4-1-2-1-2 with one of the midfielders (Lookman) operating just behind the 2 strikers as the 2 supposed wingers act more like right and left centre midfielders in a narrow structure).

This arrangement was effectively curtailed by Congo who totally emasculated Chukwueze, Iwobi and Onyeka, thereby rendering our midfield infrastructure redundant.

Still, I feel the team has learnt a lesson or two and are now more than capable of wriggling their way out of trouble within the fabric of this same formation.

It is the 4-2-4 used against Uganda that I worry about. Because I wouldn't want lightning to strike us twice.