From Tella to Sadiq: Five fringe Super Eagles players who deserve chance to impress Finidi against Mali

The Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, is set to take on Mali in their second friendly match on Tuesday. Nigeria emerged victorious in their first friendly against rivals Ghana in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Under interim manager Finidi George, Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over Ghana on Friday, marking their first victory against their rivals since 2006, a gap of eighteen years.

Following Jose Peseiro's departure after an impressive stint at the 2023 AFCON tournament, the Nigeria Football Federation appointed Finidi to lead the team temporarily. 

This decision was made to ensure continuity, given Finidi's previous involvement with the technical crew in Ivory Coast. Finidi will continue to lead the team against Mali on Tuesday.

In the match against Ghana, Finidi, who currently coaches Enyimba, employed a 3-5-2 system, granting Benjamin Tanimu his debut due to Kenneth Omeruo's injury.

This system bears resemblance to the 3-4-3 setup used by Jose Peseiro during the AFCON.

Looking ahead to the Mali encounter, Finidi aims for a strong performance to bolster his chances of securing the permanent coaching position for the Eagles, considering he is one of the leading local-based candidates for the role.

Despite Mali's formidable stature, being ranked higher than Ghana in the latest FIFA Rankings, Finidi expressed his intention to rotate the squad and provide playing time to other players.

This decision, he emphasized, aims to ensure player recovery and prevent fatigue following the victory over Ghana.

Ahead of the Mali clash, allnigeriasoccer.com highlights five players deserving of minutes in the upcoming match against Mali on Tuesday in Morocco.

Nathan Tella 

Nathan Tella earned his debut call-up from Jose Peseiro on November 10, 2023, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers versus Lesotho and Zimbabwe. However, he was absent from the AFCON tournament in January 2024.

Undeterred by this setback, Tella maintained his stellar form for Bayern Leverkusen in the German league, boasting five goals and an assist in 17 appearances.

Despite his club achievements, he remained on the bench against Ghana, with Finidi opting for Alex Iwobi over the former Southampton midfielder.

Nevertheless, Tella's consistent performances warrant an opportunity to showcase his talents against Mali on Tuesday. His work for Bayern Leverkusen and creativity merit a chance to impress Nigerians. 

The chance will ensure he has an opportunity to vie for a spot in future tournaments, allowing him to stake his claim among the national squad.

Ojo Olorunleke 

The Enyimba goalkeeper, despite his multiple invitations into the national side is yet to make his debut for Nigeria. 

The game against Mali, presents an opportunity for him to showcase his talent to Nigeria. 

Raphael Onyedika

Raphael Onyedika showcased his talent in a brief appearance against Ghana in Morocco. With just eighteen minutes remaining, he substituted Wilfred Ndidi.

Despite his limited time on the field, Onyedika stood out for his composed and assured play, particularly contributing to Nigeria's second goal.

Since his debut for Nigeria in 2022, Onyedika has received limited opportunities to showcase his abilities, accumulating only five caps.

His role at the AFCON tournament saw him serving as an understudy to the trio of Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, and Alhassan Yusuf.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru made his debut for Nigeria under Jose Peseiro in 2023. However, Dele-Bashiru did not make the squad for the AFCON tournament despite injury to Wilfred Ndidi. 

With the game against Mali less consequential, Dele-Bashiru will hope for a chance to display his qualities on the international stage. 

Sadiq Umar 

Sadiq Umar will be eager for the chance to make an impression on the international platform. 

Ranked behind Victor Osimhen, Boniface, and Taiwo Awoniyi in Nigeria's selection hierarchy, this opportunity provides the tall striker with a platform to exhibit his skill and talent to the Nigerian audience.

Which fringe Super Eagles player are you eager to see get playing time against Mali today?

Adeyemi Adewale

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com