Finidi to take charge of Eagles for Ghana, Mali friendly games

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Ghana and Mali in friendly games in March. 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the scheduled fixture in a statement on Saturday.

Nigeria will play Ghana on March 22 at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.

The team will face the Eagles of Mali at the same venue four days later.

The statement added that friendly games were put together by “NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport”.

A source close to the NFF revealed to TheCable that George Finidi will lead the Eagles in both friendly games pending the appointment of a new manager following the exit of Jose Peseiro.

The newly scheduled friendly was arranged after Nigeria’s planned tie against Argentina fell through due to visa issues.

The trio of Wilfred Ndidi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Sadiq Umar returned to the Eagles team after missing Nigeria’s silver medal-winning campaign at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to injury.

Victor Osimhen, Simon Moses, and Ademola Lookman retained their place in the squad, while William Troost-Ekong missed out as he continued to recuperate from his injury.

England-based defender Gabriel Osho and Tanzania-based Benjamin Tianimu are teaming up with the group for the first time.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Gabriel Osho (Luton FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, Wales); Benjamin Tianimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)