The number of goalkeepers in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria for their upcoming friendly games against Tunisia and Algeria has swelled by one.

Tobias Okiki Lawal who initially opt out of the game arrived the camp of the team fresh from making his first team debut for LASK in the Austrian top division.

Lawal was voted man of the match despite his team losing the game 0-3 to Rapid Wien. A sign of how much of an upgrade he will be to the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles.

His arrival in the Nigerian camp means an extended fight for the number one position between himself and the trio of Matthew Yakubu, Dele Alampasu and Maduka Okoye who is the favorite to start in goal for now.

The team will have their first training session tomorrow ahead of the game on the 9th and 13th of October in Austria behind close doors as part of the protocols to stem the spread of coronavirus.

A total of 17 players are in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of their upcoming friendly games against Tunisia and Algeria respectively.

The team will begin training tomorrow for the games which will be played on the 9th and 13th of October respectively and per an announcement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) fans are not allowed access to the game.

NFF said the decision to bar fans from the games is part of the decision reached with the Austrian authority for the game to be played as part of the measures to control the spread of coronavirus.

Ahead of the games, the camp of the Nigerian team has come alive with only six of the invited players yet to arrive the camp of the team as at 5:00pm Nigerian time.

As at the time of filing in this reports Tyronne Ebuehi, Maduka Okoye, Zaidu Sanusi, Chidozie Awaziem, Samuel Chukwueze and Mikel Agu are the players still expected in camp.

List of Players In Camp:

Moses Simon, Samuel Kalu, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Ahmed Musa, William Troost Ekong, Chidera Ejuke , Matthew Yakubu, Semi Ajayi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Dele Alampasu, Jamilu Collins, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Samson Tijani and Cyriel Dessers.

Hoffenheim of Germany defender Kevin Akpoguma is among the players in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of their upcoming friendly games against Tunisia and Algeria respectively.

The former U20 captain of Germany only recently got the all clear from FIFA to represent Nigeria at senior level making him available for selection but he wasn’t invited for this game.

He is in the camp to train and get aquatinted to the players of the team before he is issued an international passport to play for Nigeria at competitive level. His arrival came as a shock to the technical crew of the team.

A total of ten players are currently in the camp of the team ahead of the start of training tomorrow for the games on the 9th and 13th of October respectively.

Fresh from scoring his second league goal of the season for Bordeaux in their 3-0 win over Dijon in the Ligue 1, Samuel Kalu says he is heading to the Nigerian camp in high spirit.

The winger who was talked out of a loan move to Turkeyby coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr appears to have won his spot back at the club after an indifferent time last season.

Last season he scored just once but in just six games this season he has already scored twice. A sign of how well he has put his past troubles behind him and he is keen on transferring that form for the senior national team of Nigeria.

“ I feel really good with my body and shape. Last year wasn’t the best for me but I am getting myself back. Let me say for a long time I have not been this fit. So I am heading into the games with Nigeria in my best shape and form”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

Former Super Eagles winger Tijjani Babangida says the Super Eagles of Nigeria will only get the best of Paul Onuachu if Rohr hands Moses Simon one of the positions on the flanks.

Onuachu has struggled to transfer his club form to the senior national team of Nigeria since making his debut last year and that has led to his axing from the squad lately.

However he was handed a call up as a replacement for Victor Osimhen who has been ruled out of the Super Eagles friendly games against Tunisia and Algeria respectively.

The call up came on the back of a strong run that has seen him scored seven goals in his last eight matches for Belgium side Genk including six in his last four games.

According to Babangida if Onuachu is to repeat same feat with Nigeria, Simon need to be on one of the flanks due to his love for delivering crosses into the box.

“ The Nigerian team at the moment has lot of wingers, it has always been like that. However they are not wingers who put crosses into the box. Most of them are wing forward who want to score as well. Simon is however different”, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ If you watch Simon very well. You’ll agree that as much as he likes to get into scoring positions he thrives on delivering those balls into the box. You need his type for strikers like Onuachu to deliver.

“ You see strikers are built differently and Onuachu is one who thrives with balls into the box and Simon playing from either flank guarantees that. I think Rohr should think about it “.

Newly invited Super Eagles Winger Chidera Ejuke says he is different from other wingers in the senior nation team of Nigeria ahead of the friendly games against Tunisia and Algeria respectively.

The winger was handed his first call up to the senior national team of Nigeria by coach Gernot Rohr after an impressive season with Dutch side Heerenveen which earned him a move to CSKA Moscow in Russia.

Despite the fact that he is yet to stamp his authority in Russia, the 22 year old in a chat with Owngoalnigeria.com is optimistic of getting some game time with the senior national team of Nigeria.

“ The aim of any player coming into the national team is to make an impression and get to play. Mine is not different but it starts with hardwork. I know most of the players in the team particularly the ones playing in my position “, he told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“ As a winger I believe I have my own unique qualities which makes me different from the rest in the team. I know Samuel Chukwueze from the U17 team in 2015. I was in that team before the final selector was made for the U17 World Cup.

“ Moses Simon is a big brother and a motivation to me as we all see him as the one we should look up to in Kaduna. He is well respected. Samuel Kalu is someone I have interacted with before. So I have nothing but respect for them. However my aim is to convince the coaches that I deserve a chance”.

Recently invited Super Eagles goalkeeper Tobias Okiki Lawal had a man of the match debut for the first team of LASK despite conceding three goals as they slump to a 0-3 defeat against Rapid Vienna.

20 year old Lawal was invited to the senior national team of Nigeria by coach Gernot Rohr but he turned it down citing the issue of not possessing a Nigerian passport but subsequent reports suggest otherwise.

According to some reports he decided not to commit to Nigeria now as he believe he is not ready yet with his main focus on making himself the undisputed first choice of LASK.

Despite his decision, he is still not thinking about making a u-turn on his decision to play for Nigeria ahead of England “ Yes I would happily play for Nigeria in the future if they are interested in me. I still prefer to play for Nigeria “, the goalkeeper who is eligible for Austria told Owngoalnigeria.com.

His spot in the senior national team of Nigeria for the upcoming friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia was handed to Matthew Yakubu of SKF Sered of Slovakia.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been hit with another high profile omission from their squad for the upcoming friendly games against Tunisia and Algeria respectively.

Ace midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo is the latest player to withdraw from the squad after picking a knock yesterday while in action for Galatasaray in their 0-1 loss to Kasimpasa.

His withdrawal brings to three the number of players who have pulled out of the Nigerian team for the games which will be played in Austria as part of their preparations for competitive games later in the year.

Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Osimhen are the other two players who have pulled out of the game but while they were replaced immediately, coach Gernot Rohr isn’t keen on calling up any replacement yet.

The duo of Tyronne Ebuehi and Paul Onuachu have been added to the list as replacements for the aforementioned players but for Etebo, Rohr plan to utilize the midfielders at his disposal for the game.

Newly invited Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has agreed a move away from FC Midtjylland according to his representative.

Onyeka was widely expected to remain at the club after their qualification for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League but he has jettisoned the idea.

The 22 year old has agreed a move to an unnamed team in a top five league and will complete the move before the transfer window comes to an end on Monday.

Owngoalnigeria.com gathered that the impending transfer was the reason why he was left out of their match day squad for the 2-2 draw against AC Horsens earlier today.

“ Yes the transfer is done. He has left Denmark for medicals and unveiling. It’s from his new base that he will join the Super Eagles. That’s all I can tell you for now. Wait for the announcement”, a representative of the defensive midfielder said .