All is set for the international friendly football match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Ukrainian national team in Dnipro, Ukraine.
The game which is scheduled to hold September 10, 2019 by 7:30 (Nigerian time) will see the bronze-winning 2019 AFCON Eagles file out against their Eastern European opponents in what will be the first meeting between both countries at the senior level.
Super Eagles stand-in captain for the clash, William Troost-Ekong, expects a tough encounter and has warned his teammates of the threat posed by the Ukrainian team.
Ukraine is a strong team with a lot of very good players across Europe. I know a few of those in Italy where I play. This game is definitely going to be very tough but we will give our best and also make it very difficult for them. I believe it will be a very good game.
Troost-Ekong
It will be recalled that the Ukrainian Under 20 team emerged champions of the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup, a tournament in which they squared off against the Flying Eagles in a group stage match which ended 1-1.
Interestingly, tonight’s game is the first test for the new-look Eagles after the retirement of former captain, John Obi Mikel, and 2019 AFCON highest goal scorer, Odion Ighalo. Other notable absentees from the encounter includes team captain, Ahmed Musa, Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, Kenneth Omeruo, Tyrone Ebuehi, and Henry Onyekuru, all ruled out from the match due to injuries.
However, the match is an opportunity for new invitees to prove their mettle and vie for a place in the Nigerian national team. Some of the new players in the Eagles camp are German-based goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, Joseph Aribo, Emmanuel Dennis, and Joshua Maja.
Source:
ThisDay
Featured Image Source: Nairaland
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