Nigeria's JMO-Sized Tactical Conundrum

On August 4 2016 at the Amazonia Arena in the sultry heat of Manaus, Brazil, Nigeria first unveiled a new tactical formation under Samson Siasia, in a wild game of Olympics football, which ended 5-4 in her favor, against Japan.

Contrary to what had become an established role at the heart of central midfield, Siasia would field John Mikel Obi (JMO) higher upfield, behind Sadiq Umar, the central striker, but in front of the two central midfielders, Azubuike and Muhammed.

Not much has been said by subsequent Nigerian managers, including Gernot Rohr on this new role definition, except a statement credited to Siasia that this was Mikel's preferred role.

In this role, going by Rohr's definition so far, Mikel becomes the outlet for hold-up play, higher up the pitch, building on one of his greatest strengths, the ability to retain the ball technically, without 'leftovers', and allow Nigeria transition to the final third with tranquility.

Since assuming the role of  manager, Gernot Rohr has steadily installed a counterattacking regime in the Super Eagles, using the pace in wide areas for the breakaway from deep. In this new role therefore, Mikel offers an outlet for the deep ball (or knock down from the central striker), especially in the face of a high press.

When executed well, it has seen Nigeria develop play with much greater efficiency and arrive in the final third with stability and assurance. It has also increased Mikel's goals and assist rate for the national team.

The problem for Nigeria is that for much of his career outside youth football, Mikel has always received the ball to feet in the first stage of the build up play. Under Mourinho and subsequent Chelsea managers, the spacing of players enabled Mikel and his team move the ball quickly with a regime of short horizontal passes, to both evade the press as well as transition to the next attacking phase.

Higher upfield when Nigeria use the outlet ball to Mikel, his skills and experience from Chelsea affect the speed of the counter. Even with his superb close control, the game at this stage would often require him to turn upfield, which he executes under regulation speed limits in a well heeled residential neighborhood...

What is more, Nigeria play a running game, with a long history of players adept at running at a defence, with speed and great individual technique. The tempo of the Nigerian game drops on the occasion that this is required of Mikel.

These combine to make Mikel highly susceptible to the press in this role and would require that the team develop options around the ball to exploit the space that would emerge when the opponent executes this. Rohr could also drop Mikel deeper in central midfield as he has sometimes done...

Whichever way this goes, this will be an interesting issue to watch in the mundiale, especially given the conservative nature of the Nigerian manager...