What we want from the Super Eagles as they soar into action again tonight

Ayo Akinfe

So 7.30 pm tonight it is then. Our Super Eagles take on the Desert Foxes of Algeria. From what I am hearing, the starting line-up will look something like this:

Matthew Yakubu
Tyrone Ebuehi
Semi Ajayi
Kevin Akpoguma
Zaidu Sanusi
Mikel Agu
Frank Onyeka
Alex Iwobi
Samuel Chukwueze
Paul Onuachu
Samuel Kalu

For me, the result is a very secondary matter tonight as the primary objective of this friendly and the one against Tunisia next week is to try out some new faces. I am looking forward to seeing how Yakubu copes in goal, whether Ebuehi is back to his pre-injury self, how Akpoguma and Ajayi jell as a unit, how good Sanusi really is, how solid Onyeka is in midfield and whether Onuachu can really live up to the hype.

As we have seen over the last two days, Spain, Portugal, England, Belgium, etc all fielded experimental sides to blood their youngsters and new faces. We should basically be doing the same tonight and are thanks partially to injuries and Covid-19.

Nigerian football fans need to now grow up and appreciate the fact that building a team is more important then meaningless victories in friendly games. There are no three points at stake here, so a win is just a bonus, not the primary objective.