With the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) set to kick off on Saturday, coach Yusuf Salisu has an exciting crop of young players at his disposal.
Nigeria will first square up against Rwanda on Monday, January 15 before facing Libya on Friday, January 19. Subsequently, the home-based Eagles will tackle Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, January 23.
Here are five players expected to shine in the competition which will take place in Morocco.
Moses Eneji (Plateau United)
Eneji had an excellent WAFU Cup of Nations tournament and as a result, attracted a lot of attention. His energy and explosive pace make him a tough customer. He is great at counter-attacking due to his quick feet and superiority in one-on-one duels.
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He also works hard defensively, and under the tutelage of Salisu, he may yet reach his full potential at CHAN.
Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars)
Apart from being technically outstanding, Ali’s strengths lie in his passing, first touch and energy on and off the ball.
Ali has great movement and he’s not one to hide during games as he’s always looking for the ball and space.
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Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars)
Okpotu was the top scorer at the NPFL last season. His awareness is top notch and he’s always in the right place at the right time to score goals. He is also a good penalty taker.
Orji Kalu (Enugu Rangers)
He is rarely beaten in one-on-one situations, composed on the ball and also strong in the air. Kalu doesn’t have the speed of a cheetah but he’s rarely caught out of position and has the composure all good defenders possess. He is also a threat when taking set pieces.
Nura Mohammed (Elkanemi Warriors)
Mohammed is strong, fast, technically gifted, has good control and dribbling skills — qualities essential for a modern day forward against increasingly-fast defenders.
He has a good build for an attacker and is very relaxed on the ball. His decision-making is reliable, often picking out the best option and making the right call.
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