By Akinwale Kasali
The Super Eagles of Nigeria team are battle ready for Six-time World Champions, ‘The Selecao’ of Brazil in an International Football friendly at the Singapore International Stadium on Sunday October 13th, 2019.
The Gernot-Rohr coach Eagles have arrived Singapore in large numbers, promising to decimate Brazil come Sunday.
The Brazilians, yesterday, played a 1-1 draw with another African nation, the Teranga Lions of Senegal, with Roberto Firmino giving the Brazilians the lead, before Alhassan Diedhou equalized from the penalty spot to give the Africans a deserved draw.
With the performance of Brazil against Senegal, the Super Eagles players are optimistic of defeating the world champions.
Sadly, Stoke City of England’s Oghenekaro Etebo, is a late withdrawal from the roster, but all the other 21 players trained on Thursday morning and will train twice on Friday.
The official training session will take place on Saturday, with the match scheduled to kick off at 1pm Nigeria time on Sunday in Singapore.
Rohr has opted not to call any more players following the withdrawal of Etebo, and Wednesday’s withdrawal of defender Olaoluwa Aina as a result of injury.
The Franco-German already replaced defender Kenneth Omeruo with Tyronne Ebuehi, while Efosa Solomon-Otabor joined the camp following Girondins Bordeaux Football Club midfielder,, Samuel Kalu’s unavailability.
Solomon-Otabor and forward Peter Olayinka are coming into the Nigeria senior camp for the first time ever while Ebuehi returns for the first time since the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
Granada Football Club midfielder and former Nigeria Junior International, Ramon Azeez also makes a return, and defenders Abdullahi Shehu and Chidozie Awaziem, as well as midfielder Wilfred Ndidi are back after missing the 2-2 draw with Ukraine in Dnipro last month.
The 21-players that will prosecute Brazil friendly include: goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Emil Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany)
Defenders are, Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Tyronne Ebuehi (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England).
In the midfield department, invited players are: Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Anderson Esiti (PAOK Salonica, Greece); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ramon Azeez (Granada FC, Spain)
Forwards: Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Efosa Solomon-Otabor (PFC CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Prague, Czech Republic).
