Nigeria and Cameroon will once more battle it out at the Stadion Wiener Neustadt in the second of a two-match friendly programme in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
Five-time African champions Cameroon edged the first encounter 1-0 at the same venue on Friday, courtesy of a 36th-minute strike by Andre Zambo Nguissa. The Super Eagles created chance after chance but failed to get the ball into the net.
Coach Gernot Rohr spoke at length about having to use a rash of new players in the first session, but he is compelled to do even more of that in Tuesday’s encounter following injuries to defenders William Ekong and Jamilu Collins, and the knock for pacy winger Moses Simon.
Simon appeared to be getting better as of Monday morning, but the smart money is on him starting from the bench, just as Cyprus-based goalkeeper Francis Uzoho may start in goal against the Indomitable Lions. With the versatile Abdullahi Shehu heaved back to the rear from midfield for which he was initially pencilled down, and the couple of injuries from Friday’s match, Rohr has had to extend an invitation to Hungary –based Vincent Onovo to fight for his first cap. Onovo arrived in the team hotel just after dinner on Sunday.
A three-man defenceline is in the offing, with perhaps Chidozie Awaziem, who impressed in that unit on Friday, Abdullahi and Ozornwafor. Another late invitee, Anthony Izuchukwu, from Slovakia, is another possibility. A loaded midfield could include Onovo, with Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Samson Tijani, and Abraham Marcus also on the roll.
Read Also: Udeze: Rohr Should Give Other Goalkeepers Chance In Second Friendly Vs Cameroon
Home–based professional Anayo Iwuala could start, with Paul Onuachu, Peter Olayinka, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Terem Moffi, and Captain Ahmed Musa also to taste action.
Home–based professional Anayo Iwuala could start, with Paul Onuachu, Peter Olayinka, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Terem Moffi, and Captain Ahmed Musa also to taste action.
After Friday’s game, Rohr told the media: “We missed seven key players due to injuries, so it was not our best team, but it was good to see other players. We are not happy to lose the game, but we saw some interesting new young players.”
Friday’s defeat was Rohr’s first loss to Cameroon in four matches. The Eagles pounded the Lions 4-0 in Uyo and were held 1-1 in Yaounde in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in September 2017, and then edged the Lions 3-2 in the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt two years ago.
Though a friendly game, fierce rivals Cameroon were very happy to prevail over Nigeria for the first time since winning the Africa Cup of Nations final on penalty shoot-out in Lagos 21 years ago. “We took the game seriously because we played against a tough opponent, a big game against a big rival. It was important for us to show our preparations, and I’m happy we won,” said Cameroon’s Germany-based striker Eric Choupo-Moting.
A sense of purpose to win the second game reigns supreme in the Eagles’ Hilton Garden Inn camp in Wiener Neustadt, 46 kilometres outside Vienna.
5 Comments
This coach eh…oga start markus,olayinka,moffi make we see them.make we the fans judge haba.if Dem f*** up we lash Dem out. We already know our first 11,let’s see who we can add or drop completely.
Excuses bla bla bla every day without result, are we not tired of this blabbing?
Super Eagles is not the problem but the coaches.
This is where we are over the five years and still, we are expecting miracles to happen ba?
Ah, Nigerians, I hail o. It is well. We want to enjoy good food without having ingredients available for the food, how would that be possible?
We are watching. Good luck Super Eagles. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Iwobi should play make, while Markus should play in the right wing.
Lol I guess ur amunike and egbo will do better abi?
With folks like Onovo being scrambled into camp in the dark and dead of night… I hope our Completesportsnigeria forum Premier of Invitation Criteria Regualtion committee… @Dr.Drey will not wake up in the afternoon next time to shout top 5 league in our ears… they will soon find new goal post for Rohr. Hahahaha…