3 mistakes Eric Chelle MUST not repeat against South Africa

The Super Eagles squeezed past Rwanda to collect maximum points and keep their World Cup dreams alive. However, the effort from the team against the Amavubi could all go to nought should they fail to clinch victory against South Africa in Bloemfontein. 

Bafana Bafana are the group leaders, sitting on the only guaranteed qualification slot. With the Super Eagles six points behind the Boys Boys and only nine points left to play for—including the clash at the Free State Stadium—beating South Africa at home is non-negotiable. 

Going by what was on offer in the win against Rwanda, the Super Eagles will struggle against the 1996 AFCON winner. However, Eric Chelle can boost those chances by making these three changes.

While Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka were not deployed in a true midfield pivot against the Amavubi, as the former Augsburg man and Iwobi clearly played on either side of Ndidi, the existence of both players in a midfield set-up has long been proven to be inefficient. 

Both players are better off the ball than on it, leaving the Super Eagles with two liabilities in possession. Onyeka had to be yanked off against Rwanda, as he looked like a fish out of water in that right midfield position. If Chelle continues to insist on a 4-4-2 Diamond, Fisayo Dele Bashiru or Raphael Onyedika will be a better fit. 

The Super Eagles were much improved in the second half of the Rwandan game. The uptick can be partly attributed to heightened urgency, but the greater causal factor is the tweak in formation. 

Chelle tinkered at half-time and adjusted the set-up to something that looked like a 3-4-3, with Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman occupying either flank, leaving Cyriel Dessers and Tolu Arokodare in central areas.

The change had the desired effect as the Rwandan backline were forced to stretch their resources, a sharp contrast from the first half when the Super Eagles overloaded the left flank and struggled to dent the focused Amavubi block. 

If we are to stand a chance against South Africa, using both flanks cannot be an afterthought; it has to be the starting formula. 

When Osimhen got injured in the 34th minute of the Rwandan game, Dessers came in to replace him, even though Tolu Arokodare was better suited to the cross-obsessed tactic the Super Eagles deployed at that point in the game. 

It can be deduced that Chelle sees the former Utrecht striker as Osimhen's number two. Going by seniority in the team, he will be right; however, on current form and trajectory, that slot should belong to the new Wolves striker. 

Arokodare, who recently secured a move to the Premier League, is on the ascendancy, while Dessers, who now plies his trade in Greece after a summer move to Panathinaikos, is in the twilight of his career. More importantly, Arokodare scored the winner against Rwanda and created many dangerous situations with aerial prowess and immaculate hold-up play. For the game against South Africa, with Osimhen’s absence confirmed, Arokodare should get the nod.