Super Eagles Coach : Why Joel Obi Is Starting Ahead Of Eddy Onazi

Home-based Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf has explained why Torino midfielder Joel Obi was picked ahead of Eddy Onazi for tonight's friendly between Poland and Nigeria at the Municipal Stadium in Wrocław.

Yusuf pointed out that Obi making the starting line-up had little or nothing to do with his performance in training on Wednesday, and added that the technical crew chose him because they want to see whether or not he can adapt to Rohr's system ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

''We have some players that we want to see that did not play in the World Cup qualifiers, '' said Salisu Yusuf to allnigeriasoccer.com just before the players and officials left for the stadium a few minutes ago.

''We already know Onazi, he has played so many games for us. We want to see whether Joel Obi can adapt to our system of play.

''Onazi may still be introduced in the second half, depending on how the game goes.''

The 26-year-old Joel Obi last played for the national team in a pre-World Cup friendly against Scotland on May 28, 2014.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel