The Super Eagles of Nigeria will square up against DR Congo in what is the first of three friendly matches before they play their first game at the FIFA World Cup which is taking place in Russia.
DR Congo, who narrowly missed out on a World Cup qualifying birth after finishing second to Tunisia in the qualifying series are expected to provide a litmus test for the Super Eagles as they possess proven players such as Cedric Bakambu, Benik Afobe and former Chelsea player, Gael Kakuta.
Also,The Leopards, as they are fondly called are nine places ahead of the Super Eagles on the FIFA rankings, as they are seated on the 38th spot.
The match which is billed to take place at the Adokiye Amiesimake Stadium in Port Harcourt, will also serve the Technical Adviser of the team, Gernot Rohr an opportunity to drop five players before heading to England to play against the Three Lions.
Of the 30-man provisional list which was released by Rohr earlier this month, only Chelsea forward, Victor Moses is not with the squad, as he is expected to join up with the team on London for the England friendly match.
Also, Rohr is still sweating on the fitness of Gent forward, Moses Simon, as defensive midfield stalwart, Wilfred is still not back to full fitness and is expected to miss the match.
Both teams last met in a friendly game in Belgium three years ago, with the DR Congo team defeating the Super Eagles by 2-0.
Players to Watch:
• John Obi Mikel (Nigeria): After missing the Super Eagles last friendly matches in March, it is apparent that Mikel is a key cog in the team. He makes the Super Eagles tick anytime he plays, as his calming presence in the middle of the pack, brings control to the team’s play. His vision and passing range can also be a thing of danger for the opposition when he gets into his groove.
- Cedric Bakambu: The talismanic striker who now plays for Beijing Guoanin China is their go-to man when it comes to scoring goals. He has already scored 7 goals in 16 appearances since making his debut in 2015. The former Villarreal player has got a beampole figure and can be a cause of concern for the opposing defense.
Head to Head clash:
• Nigeria won 5
• DR Congo won 3
• Drawn Games 0
Coaches:
• Gernot Rohr (Nigeria)
• Florent Ibenge (DR Congo)
Date, Time and Venue of the match:
• May 28th, 2018
• 5:00pm (Nigerian time)
• Adokiye Amiesimake Stadium, Port Harcourt.
