International Friendlies: Super Eagles go for Victory Against White-Reds in Warsaw
There is only pride on the line as Poland host Nigeria in an international friendly, with both teams having failed in their quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. However, Nigeria will go for victory in Wednesday’s international friendly encounter against the White-Reds of Poland, says Head Coach Eric Chelle on Tuesday.
Calvin Bassey’s arrival brought the number of players in camp to 20, while Germany-based Philip Otele, who shone at the Unity Cup in London, was being expected to hit camp on Tuesday night.
Bassey’s arrival means Chelle can now pick and choose men for his rearguard, with the Fulham defender able to partner with motivated Semi Ajayi in the centre, and Igoh Ogbu and Emmanuel Fernandez also available.
“Now, we have a team and we are preparing to go out there and win. Winning is the mentality that we are trying to create in the team, in the players. We will go for a win on Wednesday,” said Chelle.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who arrived in Warsaw on Monday afternoon, immediately joined the team for training and showed excellent form. There is also goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who kept a clean sheet in his first two matches for Nigeria as the Eagles won the Unity Cup in London, as well as Cyprus-based Francis Uzoho.
Zaidu Sanusi, league champion with FC Porto in Portugal, and Bruno Onyemaechi will contend for the left back slot, with captain Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tochukwu Nnadi, Raphael Onyedika and youngster Abdullahi Bewene available for the middle of the park.
Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Rafiu Durosinmi, Terem Moffi, Otele and Paul Onuachu, are the men upfront.
Match News and Current Form
Poland’s 2-0 friendly defeat to Ukraine on Sunday was their second successive loss, following on from a World Cup play-off defeat to Sweden in March. Another reversal here would signal their worst run of form in over three years, and Jan Urban’s men will hope a return to Warsaw inspires a turnaround as they’re unbeaten in four matches in the capital (W3, D1). And while Poland are without a clean sheet in five outings (W2, D1, L2), the fact that their defeat to Ukraine was their first in a friendly since 2018 (W9, D3) suggests they should be able to bounce back here. Opponents Nigeria have missed out on qualification for the last two World Cups, but a run of one defeat from their last 11 matches (W9, D1) indicates they cannot be taken lightly.
That streak includes grabbing a third-place finish at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles’ only defeat came on penalties to Morocco, and concluded with a comprehensive 3-0 success against Jamaica at the weekend. Éric Chelle will hope this side can continue that form, but concern comes from managing just one success from their eight games against European nations (D2, L5) since beating Poland in 2018.
Head-to-Head History
Nigeria’s 1-0 win in a friendly in 2018 is the only H2H contested between these sides, and Poland’s most recent meeting with an African side.
Wednesday’s game will commence at 8.45pm Poland time (7.45pm Nigeria time) at the 58,000 – capacity PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw.