Nigeria Vs Poland: Uzoho to start as Super Eagles goalkeeper, expected starting XI

Uzoho will be getting his first start for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr has revealed that Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper Francis Uzoho will start in the friendly game against Poland on Friday, March 23.

The Super Eagles have been without a clear first-choice goalkeeper and curious eyes have been on Rohr to see who he will use in the friendly game against Poland.

In his press conference ahead of the game,  the Super Eagles boss revealed that the 19-year-old will be between Super Eagles post for the friendly game.

 

“For the goalkeepers, I think Francis Uzoho will make his first start for the Super Eagles, he has been in camp since Tuesday and the other goalkeepers just arrived on Wednesday,” Rohr told newsmen at the press conference.

Uzoho made his first appearance for the Eagles, coming on in the second half to keep a clean sheet in Nigeria’s 4-2 win over Argentina in November.

Expected line-up Vs Poland

Rohr has been known to always go with his strongest team available to him, so with that in mind, these are the expected line-up for the game against Poland.

4-3-3

 

Pulse Sports have learnt that this will be the starting line-up against Poland although they might be unexpected changes.

The 4-3-3 has been Rohr's most used formation as Super Eagles boss and with that Uzoho will be starting in goal with Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong as the central defenders.

Shehu Abdullahi has been a regular for the Super Eagles and is expected to start in right-back although Tyronne Ebuehi impressed in the second half against Argentina.

Rohr might have also seen enough of Abdullahi and decides to stick with Ebuehi although there are still doubts over his fitness.

Bryan Idowu had a fantastic outing in the left-wing back against Argentina and Rohr is sticking with him although Elderson Echiejile is back in the squad.

In midfield, Ogenyi Onazi is back and is slotting straight in midfield alongside Wilfred Ndidi. With Captain John Mikel Obi not available, Kelechi Iheanacho is to start as the No.10 although Joel Obi has reportedly impressed in training.

Line-up: Uzoho, Balogun, Ekong-Troost, Abdullahi, Idowu, Ndidi, Onazi, Iheanacho, Moses, Iwobi, Ighalo

3-4-3

 

If Rohr makes a last-minute change to the above line-up, he might revert to the three-man defence set-up he used for the first time as Super Eagles boss in the 4-2 win over Argentina in November 2017.

With this set-up, Uzoho would start in goal with three men in front of him; Chidozie Awaziem, Balogun and Troost-Ekong.

Abdullahi as a right-wing back and Idowu in the left-wing; in midfield, Ndidi and Onazi.

Iheanacho, Moses and Ighalo would lead the attack.

Line-up: Uzoho, Awaziem, Balogun, Ekong-Troost, Abdullahi, Idowu, Ndidi, Onazi, Iheanacho, Moses, Ighalo