Flying Eagles pair of Valentine Ozornwafor and Tom-Dele Bashiru are in line to return to the squad for Monday’s Round of 16 clash against Senegal at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, Completesports.com reports.
Both players missed Nigeria’s final Group D game against Ukraine due to injuries. The game ended 1-1.
Ozornwafor will be back at the heart of defence to partner Aliu Salawudeen while Bashiru could return to link up with Kingsley Michael in midfield according to a report by the communications department of the Nigerian Football Federation.
Two–time silver medalists, Nigeria, are looking to surpass their predecessors’ feat at the tournament by qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time in their last three appearances.
Senegal, topped Group A to reach the Round of 16. They are currently unbeaten at Poland 2019, winning two games and recording one draw without conceding any goal.
Nigeria on their part, squeezed through as one of the best four third-place finishers.
Recall that the Flying Eagles arrived in Lodz on Saturday and did an inspection of the Stadion Widzewa, before settling down for training.
The team also trained on Sunday evening ahead of the clash with the Junior Teranga Lions.
Monday’s Nigeria – Senegal clash will kick off at 7.30pm Nigerian time.
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COMMENTS
Good stuff……bashiru,ofoborh,kingsley,in d middle,
I wonder if we will see our erstwhile first choice pairing of Igho Ogbu and Valentine Ozornwafor for the match.
Also a midfield of Oforboh, Dele-Bashiru and Kingsley Michael/Anikeme Okon. Were going to need to have our best players on the pitch from now on.
@Drey, Now CSN don confirm am oo. TOM DELE-BASHIRU was out injured in the previous games
Thanks. I don see am..!
I hope Oforboh retains his position as the deeplying playmaker with Dele Bashiru playing a more advanced midfield role.
Oforboh dished some neat passes from deep in the last match and he looked more assured in his tackles.
A midfield trio of Oforboh Dele-Bashiru and Kingsley Michael should cause problems if the gel.
With Henry Offia and either Maxwell Effiom or Aniekeme Okon playing in either flanks, the Flying Eagles should be able to do something meaningful.
That guy, Tijani Mohammed, should start making better use of his height and build. He should learn to hold up play to bring others in and also do more knock-downs and quick flick-ons to quicker players around him.
Also, bar the first match, captain Utin has been slightly underwhelming. He should impose himself more and influence others to influence matches.
All in all, the Flying Eagles have a favourable potential passage to the semi-finals because Senegal and South Korea/Japan in their path – not entirely the strongest teams in the tournament.