Malawi vs Nigeria Preview

1. Malawi meets Nigeria for its first home game in the world cup qualifying series, following a draw on the road to Kenya and a home win for Nigeria against Namibia. Interestingly,  the loquacious coach Kinnah Phiri was team manager when an energetic Malawi team held Nigeria in a pulsating 2-2 draw with Clement Temile and the late Clifton Msiya starring...and current Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi as captain... 
2. Three players Harry Nyirenda, Robert Ng'ambi and Chiukepo Msowoya, return after missing last week's match in Kenya, while wide midfielder Peter Pindani earns a first call up.
3. Defender and team captain Peter Mponda also returns after missing the trip to the Kisarani due to club commitment. The vast majority of the squad is drawn from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa, except for the young Robin Ngalande from the youth team of Atletico Madrid and Russell Mwafulirwa who is currently unatached.
4. For Nigeria, all the starters from last week are available, but injuries have led to the dropping of Ekigho Ehiosun and Odumadi. Also dropped is Izu Azuka from Sunshine Stars and suprisingly Fengor Ogude who had earlier been declared fit. Obiorah Nwankwo is retained and is expected to shake off a minor knock, while Raheem Lawal is added to the first team squad.
5. In my opinion the major tactical challenge for Nigeria going into this game lies especially in the ability of the team to use the midfield, and controlled possession to suck the energy and enthusiasm from what should be a bouyant Malawi team, and create a platform for the counterattacking game. This is especially important as a sometimes over exhuberant Malawi team, tend to leave undefended zones for a counterattacking team to exploit.
6. Simultaneously, a static defence line often leaves the team vulnerable to the quick 1-2 pass and deep runs from midfield, with defenders ball watching and inattentive to the movement around them.
7. Against Namibia, a nominal 4-2-3-1 team structure often looked like a 4-2-4, an imbalance that was never challenged by a cautious opponent sitting too deep and lacking quality. This will have to be addressed in order not to put too much pressure on the defence as well as leave the forwards isolated.
8. The next major challenge I suspect will be the structure of the pressing game:

9. 
   

   How high do we press the Flames and as a consequence how high will the defensive line be?

   How is this executed- individually or more structured, perhaps within zones?

10. The team's pressing game against Egypt and especially Peru was often exposed for its lack of structure, with gaps emerging behind the central midfield as the pressing players are drawn out of position.
11. This is especially important as the Flames are a fairly decent (even if erratic) passing team in open play, with the occassional swift combination passing game. The left side of the team appeared most potent at the Kisarani, with good chemistry between Kamwendo and Ngalande; the latter making some telling deliveries, often to the far post.
12. The match should provide a good test for the Nigerian lateral defenders, especially if Pindani starts and brings his club form to the game. It should especially test Juwon Oshaniwa's lack of positional discipline and poor recovery rate.
13. Against Namibia, Nigeria looked most dangerous when Ike Uche or Victor Moses ran at the defence centrally. I expect the two players to remain the most influential in attack.
14. On the flanks, Utaka and Uzoenyi were ineffective, with the latter unable to bring his undoubted qualities to aid the team game.
15. In my opinion Keshi's homebased approach will live or die by this game....
16. The decision to drop Fengor Ogude who was already fully integrated into the Super Eagles, and declared fit earlier (Source) is suprising to say the least. While I respect the right of every coach to make decisions concerning the team, you have to wonder whether this decision is entirely based on technical considerations.
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    PS: The Nigerian team's chattered flight that was to depart tonight has now been cancelled Link. With the game scheduled for Saturday afternoon, the team now runs the real risk of repeating the mistakes from the Ethiopia match which was discussed here.

Eagles squad to Malawi:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim

Defenders: Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Gege Soriola, Papa Idris, Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echejile and Juwon Oshaniwa.

Midfielders: Gabriel Reuben, Raheem Lawal, Obiorah Nwankwo, Henry Uche

Strikers: Victor Moses, Sunday Mba, Ikechukwu Uche, Omatsone Aluko, Uche Kalu Ejike Uzoenyi, Obinna Nwachukwu, Ahmed Musa, John Utaka

Malawi Line-Up vs Kenya

Goalkeeper: Simplex Nthala (16)

Defenders: Moses Chavula (3); Foster Namwera (4); James Sangala (13); Limbikani Mzava (12)

Midfielders: James Kamwendo (10); Dave Banda (6); Chimango Kayira (15); Robin Ngalande (11)

Strikers: Russell Mwafulirwa (9); Atusaye Nyondo (18)

Subs Used: 37′ John Banda (2) in for Robin Ngalande; 54′ Frank Banda (8) in for Atusaye Nyondo

90′ Zicco Mkanda (13) in for Russell Mwafulirwa

Subs not used: Amadu Ali (1); Pilirani Makupe (7); Steve Chagoma (14); Jimmy Zakazaka (17)

Ndaziona Chatsalira (19)