GOAL’s Ed Dove picks out each side’s star man ahead of Friday’s playoffs
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The key question facing Augustine Eguavoen ahead of Friday’s meeting with rivals Ghana in Kumasi is ‘who will replace Wilfred Ndidi?’ with the influential midfielder ruled out with a medial ligament injury.
How he answers this query may decide how the Super Eagles fare at the Baba Yara Stadium, although the form of Victor Osimhen will also be key.
Back in contention after missing the Africa Cup of Nations, the striker has struck braces in his last two Napoli games—for the first time in his career—and has the quality to fire the Eagles to Qatar.
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With Ndidi absent for Nigeria, the Black Stars will surely see the midfield area as a key battleground as they look to take the initiative in the first leg.
Thomas Partey has hit some fine form in the Premier League, and has been a key figure as Arsenal have consolidated their grip on a top four position.
Whoever Eguavoen picks in the heart of the midfield, it’s imperative that Partey dominates the contest and drives Ghana to a positive result in front of their own fans.
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The Eagles will be looking to repeat their last performance against Tunisia, when they defeated them 1-0 amidst controversial circumstances at the World Cup.
Midfield will again be a key area of the contest, and Mali have swelled their already stocked options with the arrival of Everton man Abdoulaye Doucoure, who’s finally committed to the West African nation.
At 29, he has the experience required to negotiate a demanding match-up with the North Africans, while his physical frame and engine can be key assets in a contest that will doubtless be cagey.
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The Carthage Eagles can also welcome back some experienced faces in the form of Ferjani Sassi and Taha Yassine Khenissi, but it’s Wahbi Khazri who has the greatest potential to be their match-winner.
He excelled at the 2018 World Cup, has the grinta to make the difference in contests such as this, and, with nine goals in Ligue 1 so far this season, continues to excel in a more advanced role where he can trouble the opposition goalkeeper.