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Tuesday's friendly against Ukraine comes at an important time for Gernot Rohr's squad-building efforts with the Nigeria national team.

The third-place finish achieved at the Africa Cup of Nations in the summer saw the Super Eagles surge in the latest Fifa rankings. It is imperative to maintain that positive momentum; despite not being a part of the First Round of Caf World Cup qualifying, there really was no question of not taking advantage of the international window.

However, even beyond that, the friendly offers Rohr an opportunity to look forward and get the next phase of his team's development underway. His initial list of invitees seemed to miss this point, with only two new names added to the squad that took part at the Afcon.

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However, a number of injuries and logistical concerns have forced his hand, and there will be a chance for the likes of Bordeaux's Josh Maja and Club Brugge's Emmanuel Dennis to strut their stuff against a major side, throwing up new possibilities.

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However, the real headline-maker in the squad is 19-year-old Maduka Okoye, who seems to have been anointed to take over as first-choice goalkeeper for the national team. It is a problem position, one in which Rohr has been unable to find any kind of stability or reassurance in the course of his tenure.

Uzoho

Can Okoye be the one who allays that kernel of apprehension, that knot that now forms in the belly of the Super Eagles fan whenever the opponent has the ball in the general vicinity of the penalty area?

That is a difficult question to answer, in more ways than one.

First, there is the pressure on the teenager's admittedly broad shoulders. Usually, there is a line of succession, and a youngster can understudy the incumbent, earn the confidence and trust of his teammates and the coaching crew, and then have the gloves come to him almost as a matter of course.

In Okoye's case, there is no such luxury.

There is also the concern that no one knows quite what to expect. Playing out of the German fourth tier makes his club performances impossible to evaluate, and therefore it is almost a blind date of sorts, with both parties awkward and uncertain as to how to please. It could just as easily be love at first sight, or an absolutely rotten evening in Dnipro, with sighs and pointed glances at the clock.

There is also the fact that Francis Uzoho, who is ostensibly his rival for the position, is now playing more regularly with Omonoia Nicosia. This was not the case leading up to the Afcon, and led Rohr to select Daniel Akepyi as first-choice, but Uzoho has roared back into contention admirably.

Daniel Akpeyi - Nigeria

That is not to say it is all uphill for Okoye, of course.

In fact, considering the soft landing the Super Eagles got in the draw for Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, now is as good a time as any to be debuting a new, quite inexperienced goalkeeper: his mistakes, when they happen, are unlikely to be terminal.

That relieves some of the pressure, but only on Okoye.

For Rohr, the stakes are as high as they have ever been.

With the inclusion of the likes of Maja and Dennis, it is clear that his youth project is continuing apace.

Josh Maja - Bordeaux

The expectation now is that this exciting young talent adds up to something more free-flowing, that his own style evolves beyond catch-as-catch-can.

Joe Aribo will go some way toward helping that: his running with the ball should connect the halves of what looked a broken team at times in Egypt.

It is all the more important as Victor Osimhen begins his run leading the line for the national team. The LOSC Lille man is a classic poacher, and is even less inclined or suited to both sing and dance at the same time: it will be necessary to build a framework that allows him apply the flourishes at the end of moves, as opposed to foraging.

Whether Rohr can recalibrate his team in a way that it consistently gets the ball to his most dangerous players is the question. That, and if he has finally found a strong enough lock for the back door. Against Ukraine, the answers will begin to emerge.



TIME IS 7:30PM NIGERIAN TIME !.

Earthquake1:
I would like to commend Pinnick for organizing the Ukraine friendly

The man dey try

Pinnick is dey try o .. Compared to the others

I like to know this safari girl ...

Is she a fan of iheanacho christaino

safarigirl:
the way I was talking about Alex Iwobi and that his babe that year, Clarissa and I had a crush on him abi?

Some of you have limited reasoning and it shows. Kelechi no fine reach who I fit crush on. How will I go from Awoniyi to Kelechi? Inside life

Haunty calm down..

junnyjake:
Uzoho

Aina Ekong Balogun Collins

Etebo Ajayi

Chukwueze Iwobi Kalu


Onuachu

Knowing Rohr, I predict this would be his lineup tomorrow.

We'd lose tomorrow's game by a single goal deficit.

Onauchu won't start guy ..

kylain iheancho is finally in the camp ..

if iheanacho play for that friendly mah bend

Who e wun bench

Mbappe?

. Maybe he's training to replace vardy

He needs more time

So kylian iheanacho mbappe never enter camp ...

Am sure he went to learn capentry

Make imama come enter heaven make i see

so someone in my area that lingard is close to iniesta in balling
My guy still dey collect slap till now

Lingard can't even lace mikel boots

DonroxyII:
Ladies use to define what they don't like using a guy they don't have interest in.

I am a guy but I was convinced by the above and I know most ladies will like that too. Unfortunatley if it comes from a dum.bass dude.

Lol

Iwobi is better than lingard ..

Argue with ur keyboard.

Earthquake1:
7 of the current SE squad(including Idowu and Maja) are foreign born and you are talking of starters

If they make up 1/3 of the team how has it not worked?

If you are talking about performances, none of them has disappointed except a few average performances by Idowu and thats it

Idowu is a confirmed carpenter .. Which performance..
Except the one again argentina .. He will surely lick the bench

elyte89:
Chief... Y re u taking dis match so serious...its just a friendly match,nothing more

I have given up on imama and his boys.
Even if i assemble my family members ,we will beat that sudan team .

I hope rohr doesn't loose to ukriane ,cos i know they won't start their first team .. If rohr looses .. Nigeria nuh go contain am ..

tbaba12345:
Well, Imama is in panic mood so he is calling everyone to ensure that he does not lose.

Even if he looses .. Nothing will happen .. This is nigeria

Semi Ajayi and his West Brom teammates might be without Manager Slaven Bilic over the next few weeks after the Baggies Boss was shown a red card over in the Championship match against Derby.

Super Eagles midfielder Onazi Ogenyi is on his way to full fitness as he joined his Trabzonspor teammates, including Summer signing Daniel Sturridge in training.

TheSuperNerd:
This is England's Three Lions depth. I need same for my Super Eagles across all departments.... we are already achieving that in a few positions though.

Barnes is ahead of abraham

BascoVanVeli:
What does that have to do with genetics that could be shared by someone else and coached out of them by Ranieri?

Ginunea is not a club .. How many times do u think he will be with the players

BascoVanVeli:
That's were Kante is from

Kante play there one day?

BascoVanVeli:
Hope he can find another Kante.

For guinea?

mostob:
what do you expect. I questioned his ability and capabilities then. They said he has been commenting on and liking NFF posts. I wish the guy well o. I hope he learn some things and build on them.

I trust rohr, .. Na bench e go chop till he them stop to call am

thanks

mrNEMZY:
Guy, you are good

TheGoodJoe:
NigeriaFootball360
@okparaonline

Match ended Dusseldorf II 2-4 Dortmund. 4 goals shipped in this very match. He (Maduka Okoye) has now played 3 straight matches, no clean sheets, 7 goals against (played 3, win 1, lost 2).
I have always said he needs to be with the under 23 squad and not fast tracked into the Super Eagles

---

Funny comment on the thread about Maduka Okoye.

Akpeyi is better than this guy

PrimadonnaO:
As long as they don't smoke and womanise.

soon to be here ..

You welcomed to be my patient

If u know what i mean

PrimadonnaO:
I actually laughed.
Thanks. Lol

Do you like doctors ?

Sudan is going to be a tough draw ..

Am sure they a re aware of libya case ..

The ukraine squad started their camp few days ago ..
Meanwhile your boys are yet arrive for a match 2days away

PrimadonnaO:
Lmao

At least i made you smile

Fountainofyouth:
Guy you're funny, that ain't it at all.

She said she hates poets