A decision on who will start in goal for Nigeria against Algeria in tomorrow’s friendly game is yet to be made by the technical crew of the team according to coach of the team Gernot Rohr.

The coach said he is presently mulling over three goalkeepers in Maduka Okoye , Dele Alampasu and Matthew Yakubu despite the fact that he has four goalkeepers in the team.

He ruled out Austrian based goalkeeper Tobias Okiki Lawal as the LASK shot stopper is yet to get his Nigerian passport due to administrative issues as he currently holds an Austrian passport.

Rohr said the 20 year old has to renounce his Austrian citizenship if he is to be issued a Nigerian passport, except he is granted a special waiver which isn’t in the power of the national team of Nigeria but his country of birth.

“ Lawal can’t play because he has passport issues but we have three goalkeepers in the team who are doing very well in training so I will decide”, Rohr said during an interactive session with the media ahead of tomorrow’s game.

“ I will make the list tomorrow morning so I can’t tell you who will start because it will not be nice for the person to see it first from the press. So after I tell him them I will let you know.

“ We have Maduka who did very well in the game against Brazil. Now he is in Holland playing for Sparta Rotterdam but he isn’t getting games then we have Alampasu who has played in half of the games for his team this season in Europa League and in the league.

“ Yakubu has played in all of the games in Slovakia but he is new to the team. So we will see tomorrow when we decide. Already we have a name who will likely start in goal”.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has confirmed that FC Porto new signing Zaidu Sanusi will start at left back for Nigeria against Algeria tomorrow.

Newly invited Zaidu has been training with the team and he has made a positive impression on the coaches and will start ahead of regular left back Jamilu Collins.

The coach in a zoom press conference with Nigerian journalist confirmed that the 22 year old has been picked to start so as to curtail the threat of Algeria star man Riyad Mahrez.

“ Sanusi did very well last season and he will start the game tomorrow because you know we have to keep Mahrez in check. He is one among the few players we have who are playing in the Champions League. So he will start in defence for us”.

The coach has also picked Semi Ajayi to start in the position of Wilfred Ndidi In defensive midfield converting him from his regular role as a central defender. His main role for West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League.

As the Super Eagles of Nigeria round up their preparations for Friday’s friendly game against Tunisia in Austria, Owngoalnigeria.com takes a look at players who have impressed so far in training.

Let’s start with the players who have impressed so far ahead of tomorrow’s game which will be the first of the two friendly games they will play in Austria.

Samuel Chukwueze: He has been a thorn in the flesh of defenders who have come up against him. Eager to get on the ball to try something new. Looks a part in training so far.

Moses Simon – Easily the quickest and fittest player in camp. The only winger in the team who defends and attack at will. He was the best when they did a tactical drill on crossings. Beyond that he has been very impressive.

Paul Onuachu- Came in as a replacement for Victor Osimhen but he will likely start in attack. He has scored more goals than any other forward in training. Looks a lot more confident than he was when he was with the team last time out.

Leon Balogun- Certainly back to his best. Really solid in bringing the ball out from the back. Wins a lot of aerial duels and also act as the leader with his constant barking out of instruction.

Same cannot be said of some players expected by many to bring competition to the regulars in the team. The likes of Chidera Ejuke, Zaidu Sanusi and Cyriel Dessers haven’t done enough to edge out the already established players in the starting line up.

For now only FC Midtjylland Frank Onyeka looks certain to start among the new boys in the team as he has been pretty exciting in midfield and with Joe Aribo and Wilfred Ndidi absent he has all the chance to start.

As Nigeria gears up to take on Tunisia tomorrow coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has one area giving me headache.

In the absence of top striker Victor Osimhen, the coach has been running the rule on the four options he has in attack ahead of the game.

So far Genk of Belgium forward Paul Onuachu is the hottest in camp when it comes to goals count. He has scored in all of their three test games so far.

Captain of the team Ahmed Musa announced his arrival with a brace in their first practice match but looks set to fight for one of the slots on the flanks and not in the top striker role.

However that might change if the coach decides to go with a two man attack and it will likely be Musa playing in front of Kelechi Iheanacho who has not been too impressive.

So far bar when the players has a shooting session, the Leicester City man hasn’t quite lived up to expectations but during a drill on finishing against the goalkeepers he scored the most.

Cyriel Dessers will likely make his debut for the team many thanks to his style of play which is a lot different from the rest forwards in camp. His use of body and ability to shoot on the turn has caught the eyes.

His strike rate in shooting practice is about the best among all strikers in the team but he is yet to find his range in any of their practice match. Rohr certainly has a decision to make.

On loan Benfica defender Tyronne Ebuehi is set to start for Nigeria when they take on Algeria in an international friendly on Friday.

The defender who has been out of the team since 2018 due to an injury picked up while in pre season training with Benfica. The team he newly joined after his exploits for Nigeria at the World Cup.

This season he has regained his form at FC Twente where he is on loan and base on his performance in training with the Super Eagles, he looks sure to start in defence.

He has largely been involved with the team that will most likely start against Tunisia and even when the back four did a tactical drill he was the preferred choice at right back ahead of Ola Aina.

In his absence, Shehu Abdullahi and Chidozie Awaziem played in the position for Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with Aina deployed at left back.

Newly invited Super Eagles goalkeeper Matthew Yakubu has won the admiration of all with his ball playing abilities and it has earned him the nickname Manuel Neuer.

The SKF Sered shot stopper is among four goalkeepers in the camp of the team ahead of their friendly game against Tunisia on Friday, which will be followed by another against Algeria in four days time.

Yakubu who was a part of the Nigeria U20 team of 2019 said part of the reason why he is so comfortable with the ball at his feet is because he started off as a striker.

“ I have heard the praises from my teammates but I am not at Manuel Neuer’s level yet. Not even close but the aim is to get better than him in the future by the grace of God”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ Many don’t know that I started my career as a striker. Chidera Ejuke and I started from same team in Zaria. So that is a part of why I am comfortable playing with my feet. Also modern day football demands it”.

Coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr ensured that the players of the senior national team of Nigeria engaged themselves in a test match during preparations for friday friendly against Tunisia.

Just as it was yesterday evening, the German coach split the team into two groups and had them take on themselves in a test match which lasted for one hour.

The way the players were lined up is a big hint on how they will likely start the game against Tunisia as most of the regulars were played in same team with some new players also joining them.

Although the coach switched the players during the session, it still seems like he has his mind partly made up on the players who will start on Friday.

Team A:

Maduka Okoye
Ola Aina
Jamilu Collins
Willam Troost Ekong
Kevin Akpoguma ( Semi Ajayi)
Mikel Agu
Alex Iwobi
Frank Onyeka
Moses Simon
Samuel Chukwueze
Paul Onuachu

Team B:

Dele Alampasu
Chidozie Awaziem
Tyronne Ebuehi
Zaidu Sanusi
Samson Tijjani
Semi Ajayi
Leon Balogun
Cyriel Dessers
Samuel Kalu
Chidera Ejuke
Ahmed Musa

Hoffenheim of Germany defender Kevin Akpoguma has won the heart of the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria and he could be handed his debut on Friday.

Nigeria will take on Tunisia on Friday in a friendly game and if today’s training is anything to go by, the 25 year old defender has played himself into the position of starting.

Earlier today he was paired with William Troost Ekong In central defence and even during their evening session, the coach repeated same.

Already a partnership is brewing between the duo and barring a late minute change of mind many are already tipping them to be the preferred option in central defence.

Ekong has remained constant in the Super Eagles since the coming of Rohr with Leon Balogun as his first partner under the German. He has also paired Chidozie Awaziem and at the AFCON 2019 he paired Omeruo.

Newly invited Super Eagles defender Kevin Akpoguma has denied writing the viral letter that went round social media on his desire to represent Nigeria ten years ago.

The former U20 captain of Germany has gotten the all clear from FIFA to switch allegiance to Nigeria and he is in the camp of the Super Eagles in Austria.

Akpoguma has been with the team as they step up preparations for their friendly game against Tunisia. He was interviewed on the official Instagram page of the Super Eagles.

Asked if he wrote the letter in 2010, the 25 year old said denied writing the letter insisting that it was forged. He went further to explain his style of play.

He said his strength lies in his abilities to play from the back while his weakness according to him is his inability to be effective at the opponent’s end as he only scored once last season.

Goalkeepers of the senior national team of Nigeria in camp ahead of their friendly game against Tunisia on Friday have been pushing to impress the coaches.

The four goalkeepers in the camp are Tobias Okiki Lawal, Maduka Okoye , Dele Alampasu and Matthew Yakubu With Lawal gatecrashing the camp.

During yesterday’s game Okoye who is widely expected to be in goal for the game on Friday was hit for four with Musa scoring a brace but bar the goals he conceded. His performance during the shoot out drills was exceptional.

Dele Alampasu can easily pass as the goalkeeper with the best reflex in camp base on how he acquitted himself during the shoot out and tactical drills. Looks very much like he is back to his best.

However the goalkeeper that has made a big impression on the coaches, played and all who have witness the session so far is Matthew Yakubu. His ability to play with his legs has made some of his teammates to nickname him Manuel Neuer.

His ability to play with his feet has been eye catching. After yesterday’s session where he conceded just once during the practice game yesterday led to the tag Neuer.