Onuachu makes starting line up against Egypt

FC Midtjylland of Denmark striker Paul Onuachu will make his full senior debut in today’s Nigeria’s friendly against Egypt at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Also, Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has confirmed that Daniel Akpeyi will start against the Pharaohs.

As Akpeyi, who plays for South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs gets the nod, Ikechukwu Ezenwa would later come in to complete the match, as Francis Uzoho who was in goal for the U23 Eagles against Libya yesterday in Asaba has been ruled out of the friendly.

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“The two goalkeepers will play tomorrow. Akpeyi will start, Ezenwa will play second half,” Rohr stated during a media parley on Monday morning in Asaba.

Meanwhile, Onuachu is being handed a starting berth following the injury sustained by the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers (AFCON) top scorer, Odion Ighalo against Seychelles last Friday.

”We have a new striker (Onuachu) starting. We will have a new goalkeeper playing and there will be a change in defence, Leon Balogun will play and we will also have a new midfielder in the midfield,” Rohr said.

“Ighalo is not fit to start but he will be on the bench. We have the young player Udo who I saw at the U20, we also have Effiong here so we will be able to make six changes since it is a friendly and see a lot of players.”

Onuachu, it will be recalked, played the last 25 minutes of the final AFCON qualifier against Seychelles and Balogun was an unused substitute.