Joel Chukwuma Obi has been handed a starting berth on his return to the national team fold ahead of this evening’s pre-World Cup friendly match between Poland and Nigeria.
The Torino midfielder almost missed the call up due to an injury at club level but has sufficiently proved his fitness in training, enough to displace vice-captain Ogenyi Onazi from the starting lineup.
Apart from Obi, two players who made their debuts in the Super Eagles’ last outing, a friendly win over Argentina in November; Brian Idowu and goalkeeper Francis Uzoho will also make their full debuts for the team.
The famed ‘Oyibo Wall’ will continue their partnership at the heart of the defence with William Troost-Ekong named as the captain for the night with his club mate, Shehu Abdullahi getting the nod at right back.
Head coach Gernot Rohr has opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation and listed the England based attacking trio, Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho with China-based Odion Ighalo leading the line upfront for the Super Eagles.
Tonight’s game billed for the Stadion Miejski in Wroclaw will kickoff at 8:45pm Nigerian time.
Eagles lineup:
Uzoho; Shehu Troost-Ekong, Balogun, Idowu; Ndidi, Joel Obi; Moses, Iheanacho, Iwobi; Ighalo.
