Troost-Ekong captain, Joel Obi starts as Nigeria face Poland

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has made five changes to the side that defeated Argentina 4-2 in last year for tonight’s friendly match against Poland at the National Stadium in Wrosclaw, Extrasportsnigeria.com reports.

In the line up released to the media by the Nigeria Football Federation Deportivo de La Coruña goalkeeper Francis Uzoho will start in goal ahead of Enyimba’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa. Ezenwa who got injured in the African Nations Championship final game in Morocco only trained twice with the squad in Poland. He was indeed the last player to arrive in camp for the match.

The biggest shake up is that Joel Obi is starting in place of Eddy Onazi and will pair up Wilfred Ndidi. And in the absence of Mikel Obi and Onazi on the bench, Bursaspor defender William Troost-Ekong will start as team captain.

William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Abdullahi Shehu, and Brian Idowu make up the starting four-man defence. Chelsea’s Ola Aina, Chidozie Awaziem and Elderson Echiejile will start from the bench.

Victor Moses and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi are the wing players. Rohr has given a new role to Kelechi Iheanacho as a playmaker behind Odion Ighalo iswho is the top striker in the 4-4-1-1 formation.

Nigeria v Poland

Goalkeeper

Francis Uzoho

Defenders

Brian Idowu

Shehu Abdullahi

William Troost-Ekong (Captain)

Leon Balogun

Midfielders

Wilfred Ndidi

Joel Obi

Attackers

Victor Moses

Kelechi Iheanacho

Odion Ighalo

Alex Iwobi