Omeruo, Awaziem, Onazi, Kalu Start As Nigeria Announce Starting XI Vs Seychelles

Published: September 08, 2018

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has named his starting XI to face Seychelles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier that will hold at Stade Linité (Roche Caïman) on Saturday afternoon, starting from 1330 hours.

New Elche signing Francis Uzoho has been preferred in goal ahead of Chippa United's Daniel Akpeyi and the only home-based player named on the 21-man roster, Enyimba's Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

The defense comprises of Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem and Brian Idowu, with the last two players taking up the right-back and left-back roles respectively.

Stoke City ace Oghenekaro Etebo, who started all Nigeria's three games at the 2018 World Cup, is the shock omission in midfield, with Rohr choosing Eddy Onazi and Wilfred Ndidi as the holding midfielders while Kelechi Iheanacho takes up playmaking duties in the absence of skipper Obi Mikel.

Odion Ighalo will lead the frontline and he is flanked by Ahmed Musa and Bordeaux winger Samuel Kalu.

Nigeria Starting XI vs Seychelles : Uzoho; Awaziem, Balogun, Omeruo, Idowu; Onazi, Ndidi, Iheanacho; Ahmed Musa, Ighalo, Samuel Kalu

Ifeanyi Emmanuel