Nigerian-born ex-Poland international striker, Emmanuel Olisadebe has said tomorrow’s World Cup friendly between Poland and the Super Eagles will be a great test for both teams.
Poland and Nigeria are using the game in Wroclaw, 300 kilometres from the capital city of Warsaw, to prepare for the World Cup in Russia in June.
This will be the first-ever meeting at this level between the two countries.
Olisadebe was born in Nigeria, but will go on to score 11 goals in 25 appearances for adopted country Poland and also featured at the 2002 World Cup.
He said he expects tomorrow’s game to bring out the best in both 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
“This will be a good test for both teams before the World Cup and the result does not really matter.
“Poland will face Senegal at the World Cup and so Nigeria will be a good African test for them.
“Nigeria, on the other hand, will from this game know their level of readiness for the World Cup.
“I believe the better team on the day will win.”
The one-time striker opted to play for Poland and not his native country after he was granted the country’s citizenship on the back of his goals for Greek giants Panathiniakos.
“It was the right decision to take and some people love me for that and some hate me also for that,” he said.
“But to represent Poland at the World Cup is one memory I will never forget.”
Poland have now shot to sixth place in the latest FIFA rankings and Olisadebe said he has not been surprised by the resurgence of the ‘White and Reds’.
“They have some very good players, who play for good teams in good leagues around Europe,” he said.
“They deserve their rating because they have won some important games.”
The Nigeria defence is expected to be tested by Bayern Munich star striker Robert Lewandowski inside a sold-out 42,000-capacity Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw.
“He is their best player by many miles, he scores goals and he plays for a top club like Bayern Munich,” Olisadebe remarked.
“The Nigeria defenders also play in Europe, but it is not often that they come up against such a top striker like him.
“They will need to stay fully concentrated and be focused for them to have a good game tomorrow,” Olisadebe told SCORENigeria
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