Eagles Test Run with Poland Clash
With 83 days to the start of the World Cup 2018 in Russia, Nigerians will have a feel of what to expect from Gernot Rohr and his wards at the Mundial this night when stand-in Captain, Ogenyi Onazi leads glory seeking Super Eagles in an international friendly with Poland at the 42000 capacity p y Stadion
Wroclaw. This is the first official match between Nigeria and Poland at the senior level. It is also the first Grade ‘A’ game for Eagles as they begin final preparations for the battle in Russia in summer. Without any doubt, Poland has FIFA World Cup pedigree, having come third twice – in 1974 and 1982. The present ggeneration generation led byy by ins inspirational Captain,p Captain, Robert Lew Lewandowski, has all the qqualities qualities of p past Polish ggreat great teams. Their pperfo performance in Groupp Group E of the Europ European p World Cuppqqualifiers- Cup qualifiers- five ppo points ahead of second-pplaced second-placed Denmark Den and scoringg scoring 28 ggoals goals in six matchesstands Poland out as a good test for the Superp Super Eagles Eagles. g The Bayerny Bayern Munich star striker who has scored 51 ggo goals for his countryy country – an all-ti all-time goals record for Poland, Pol may prove too efficient if Eaglesg Eagles bac backline fail in the task of keeping him a and fellow Polish forwards in ch check. Fr From the Rea Rear, Rohr hav have the rare ch chance to throw his preferred choice for Eagles’ Number 1 jersey, yoy youngster Francis Uz Uzoho into the battle for ba baptism. In the absence of su substantive first choice goalkeeper, goalke Carl Ikeme, who is down with leukemia, the gamble with Ikechukwu Ezenwa paid off during the African qualifiers but the World Cup appears a bigger stage. Daniel Akpeyi who was expected to step up to claim the shirt after Ikeme was diagnosed g with the ailment has fallen len short of every test placed before fore him. His woeful performance e during g the first game of the AFCON 2019 qualifier against t South Africa in Uyo was a minus for him.
It is a popular dictum that yyou you don’t change a winning ngg team but with the World Cup, up,p it is a different kettle of fish. The he warm up matches are veritable e gground ground for coaches to try out different options and an experienced rienced gaffer like Rohr will not ot fail to take the chance.
In the left back position, ion, it is an opportunity to o try out new boy, Brian Idowu, to see how he can effectively fit into the back four that has right back Shehu Abdullahi as well as central defenders Leon n Balogun and William m TroostEkong.
In the middle where here the problem of the team am has remained largely unresolved resolved since Austin Jay Jay Okocha retired, the game in Wroclaw will no doubt show the amount of work done so far for the cohesion of that depart rt of the senior national team. Defensive midfielders should be the pair of Wilfred Ndidi and stand-in captain Ogenyi Onazi. Up field, Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi are expected to get starting shirts to run the wings.
In Rohr’s preferred 4-3-2-1 formation, improved Kelechi Iheanacho is expected p to play behind Odion Ighalo in the attack. And if it proves ineffective, the Franco-German coach has promised to try out other formations. The score-line however remains unimportant as Poland rated 6th in FIFA rankings is miles ahead of Nigeria g in 52nd spot.
Eagles likely starting XI – 4-2-3-1:
Francis Uzoho – Brian Idowu, Leon Balogun, William Troost, Shehu Abdullahi – Wilfred Ndidi, Ogenyi Onazi (skipper) – Victor Moses, , Alex Iwobi, , Kelechi Iheanacho – Odion Ighalo.