Flying Eagles To Play Senegal For U-20 WC Place

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will hope to overpower fellow Africans Senegal on Monday night and reach the U-20 World Cup quarter-finals in Poland.

Senegal, second at Africa’s continental tournament in Niger Republic earlier in the year, where Nigeria finished fourth, topped Group A in Poland to reach the Round of 16, with Nigeria just squeezing through as one of the best four third-place finishers.

Coach Paul Aigbogun has close to a full squad to choose from, meaning tall defender Valentine Ozornwafor would be back at the heart of defence to partner Aliu Salawudeen. But midfielder Jamil Muhammad, who picked up a knock in the loss to USA, is out of the tournament proper.

Ayotomiwa Dele-Bashiru could return to link up with Kingsley Michael in midfield.

All goalscorers from the 4-0 thumping of Qatar on the opening day — Maxwell Effiom, Ikouwem Utin, Dele-Bashiru and Aliu Salawudeen — as well as striker Tijani Muhammed, who restored parity from the spot against Ukraine on Thursday in Bielsko-Biala, are all fit for the clash against the Senegalese.

On arrival in Lodz on Saturday, the Flying Eagles did an inspection of the Stadion Widzewa, before settling down for training. The team also trained on Sunday evening ahead of the clash with the Junior Lions of Teranga.

Monday’s encounter will kick off at 7.30pm Nigeria time.