COMMENT By Solace Chukwu Follow on Twitter
The impact of Moses Simon's injury on Nigeria's World Cup campaign has perhaps not been given the column inches it deserves.
For the entirety of the Super Eagles' World Cup qualifying campaign, Gernot Rohr stayed committed to his preferred shape: a 4-2-3-1, with two deep ball-winners and Simon, a repurposed inside-forward, holding the width on the right side of midfield.
It worked, as the results attested. The former Gent man was restrained in his attacking movements, but was disciplined enough to fulfill his tactical duties: providing a counterweight to Victor Moses' roaming from the left, allowing Shehu Abdullahi - a converted midfielder - to tuck inside rather than bomb forward, and also protecting the right full-back zone in defensive transitions.