By Daily Sports on May 31, 2016
Nigeria’s Super Eagles look forward to another victory when they take on the Red Lions of Luxembourg at the Stade Josy Barthel on Tuesday evening.
A young and vibrant side prevailed over one of Africa’s strongest teams, Mali, at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on Friday, with England-based Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the only goal 13 minutes from time.
The team spent longer than the 40 minutes that was earmarked for Sunday’s first training session, shaking off travel fatigue and generally enjoying the atmosphere under a light rain shower.
On Monday morning, defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi arrived the team’s Alvisse Parc Hotel camp in Luxembourg City, bringing the number of players in camp to 21. Midfielder Babatunde Michael, who flew to Morocco after the clash with Mali to be on duty for his club, Raja Casablanca, was being expected in Luxembourg City on Monday night.
Former U-17 and U-20 star Ndidi, who helped his Belgian club, KRC Genk to qualify for the UEFA Europa League following a 5-1 defeat of Charleroi on Sunday, could start in midfield alongside stand-in captain Ogenyi Onazi and Shehu Abdullahi.
Coach Salisu Yusuf and assistants are also likely to start Turkey –based defender Kenneth Omeruo in central defence, and South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi may start in place of Carl Ikeme as the coaches intend to take a look at all the players in camp.
Ikeme, Musa Mohammed, Kingsley Madu, Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Onazi Ogenyi, Etebo Oghenekaro, Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi started the game against Mali, with Gbenga Arokoyo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Raheem Lawal, Aminu Umar and Brown Ideye coming on in the second half.
Luxembourg have scored only four goals in their last 10 matches, whilst conceding 20. But Coach Yusuf said his boys would not under-rate the Europeans at the Stade Josy Barthel.
“There are no longer small teams in international football. You could get a sucker punch if you underestimate any team. We will go out there and play to win.”
Luxembourg, coached by Luc Holtz, will rely on the fast breaks of winger Daniel Alves da Mota and the potency of Stefano Bensi in attack. Bensi scored 21 goals in the Luxembourg Premier League in the just –ended season. But there is also David Turpel, who netted 26 goals in 32 matches for Fola Esch in the Luxembourg top flight.
The Red Lions have won only two of their last 10 matches, beating Macedonia 1-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier in September 2015 and Greece by the same margin in a friendly two months later.
Their last match, a friendly against Albania in March this year, ended in a 2-0 defeat for the Lions. (thenff.com)
•Photo shows Super Eagles.
Source Daily Sports
Posted May 31, 2016
You may also like...
Ward urges Ajagba to get creative
Arsenal Face Dundalk In Europa League As Celtic...
No Balotelli as Italy name squad
Tony Bellew: Haye says win like robbing a...
Salah’s four-goal blitz fires Liverpool
World Cup 2018: Nigerian ref missing in list...

West Ham plot Chukwueze summer hijack
Tennis: Stakeholders dream big after Davis Cup promotion
Chelle on Marseille shortlist to replace De Zerbi
Edo Sports Commission boss applauds Niger Delta Games facilities
I could have fought Joshua for £100m — Ferdinand
CAF begins stadium inspection ahead of AFCON 2027
Outrage as World Cup 2026 tickets hit $143,000 on FIFA’s platform
Falcon stars gear up for WAFCON title defence
Nigerian coach in search of viral local high jumper
Ikpefan places 65th in Winter Olympics opener
NSC gives 26 athletes N200m Commonwealth Games grants
Chelle committed to Eagles job – Gusau
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,549 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,855 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,763 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,410 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,322 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,239 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,109 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,658 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,829 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,359 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,750 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,214 views)