Ighalo, Musa Should Always Start — Joseph Yobo

Ex Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo is of the opinion that Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo should’ve made the starting eleven vs Burundi yesterday.

As soon as both players were introduced, it boosted the Nigerian team to seal a 1-0 victory against Burundi.

At 0-0, John Obi Mikel was replaced by Ahmed Musa in the 58th minute while Paul Onuachu left the pitch for Odion Ighalo 15 minutes later.

Ighalo finally ended the stalemate with a clinical strike after a superb pass from Ola Aina.

Reacting to how the game turned out, Joseph Yobo has said both players are vital to the team and should always start.

His words, “The two players who came on [in the second half] should have started the game because they have the experience, Ighalo and Musa. Ighalo with his experience at the World Cup and everything,”

“These are new players coming in, sometimes they don’t have the structure. The structure that is there when you take out two of the most important players in the team. Musa is important and Ighalo is the main man that everything has to go around with his performance in the qualifiers.

“Sometimes when you see these players not started, it takes time for the team to get used to a new pattern of play and that’s what we saw in the first half.

“The second half, when the changes were made, we got better. It doesn’t mean those that started the game are not very good as well but sometimes coming into the Afcon, you’re building a new team.

“They haven’t been with the team for a while, as much as they are good, it might take them some time so it is safe when your strong players, players that can win you games when they are ready, it is always good to throw them in. It gives you a better chance.”