Dnipro Arena will host Tuesday’s friendly between Ukraine and Nigeria. The Super Eagles, who did well to win the bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, are ready for a new beginning, but, no doubt, coach Gernot Rohr will use the Ukraine friendly to test as many players as possible. The Ukrainians have been impressive in the qualifiers for EURO 2020 and they will be looking to extend their splendid winning run when they face Our Boys in Dnipro Arena.
Andriy Shevchenko’s unstoppable machine
Ukraine have been producing thrilling displays in the European Championship qualifiers, with the team holding Portugal to a goalless draw at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, while rolling over Serbia 5-0 in front of home fans. Former Milan and Chelsea superstar Andriy Shevchenko is doing a great job with the Ukraine national team and it is more than obvious that the 42-year-old tactician has built a great team chemistry.
Olekandr Zinchenko, who has established himself as a first-team regular at Premier League champions Manchester City, is undisputedly the team’s key player and all eyes will be on the pacey full-back, who is used as a midfielder in the Ukraine national team, when the Super Eagles face Andriy Shevchenko’s troops in Tuesday’s friendly.
Schalke 04 ace Yevhen Konoplyanka, who scored a brace in the 5-0 crushing of Serbia, will be yet another man to watch in the home team and Nigeria defenders should have him at bay. Experienced goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov, who made no fewer than eight successful saves in the goalless draw with Portugal, plays a very important role in Andriy Shevchenko’s team as well.
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No NPFL players in Gernot Rohr’s squad
After clinching third place at the showpiece tournament in Egypt earlier this year, Nigeria will be looking us yet another reason for celebration when they kick off their preparations for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a friendly match against Ukraine.
The Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has decided not to include NPFL players in the 24-man squad for the upcoming warm-up game and it has to be noted that the list include 18 footballers from the team that represented Nigeria at the tournament in Egypt.
Midfielder Joe Aribo and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye have received their first ever call-ups, whereas John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo will not be playing for the national team anymore after announcing the retirement from the international football.
Nigeria team huddle ahead of the match. (Photo: CP DC Press/Shutterstock.com)
Lille summer signing Victor Osimhen, who impressed on his Ligue 1 debut against Nantes, is likely to lead the line for Gernot Rohr’s troops against Ukraine, but Leicester City ace Wilfried Ndidi, who helped the Foxes hold Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge, misses the game with a hamstring injury.
The Leicester City midfielder is replaced by PAOK man Anderson Esiti, who has only one cap for the Nigeria national team.
Pacey winger Alex Iwobi, who joined Everton from Arsenal for a fee of £34m, will be yet another man to keep an eye on in the Nigeria national team in the Dnipro Arena clash. Iwobi scored a beautiful goal in Everton’s 3-2 win over Wolverhampton at the weekend, meaning that he could prove a handful for the opposition back-line.
Tammy Abraham is still on Nigeria radar, but the talented Chelsea attacker has yet to commit his future to the Super Eagles.
First ever meeting
Nigeria and Ukraine have never faced each other before on the international stage. In their last meeting with a European side the Super Eagles emerged triumphant as they outplayed Iceland 2-0 in the group stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking of Nigeria’s last encounter with a European team in friendly games, you should know that Gernot Rohr’s troops suffered a 1-0 loss to Czech Republic on June 6, 2018 during the preparations for the showpiece tournament in France.
The fact that the Super Eagles managed to keep a clean sheet in each of their previous three friendly games against Uganda (0-0), Egypt (1-0) and Zimbabwe (0-0) is certainly giving fans a reason for optimism ahead of the trip to Dnipropetrovs’k. It has to be noted, though, that Gernot Rohr’s charges recorded only one win in previous seven friendlies.
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Our Ukraine vs Nigeria Betting Tip
Ukraine look unstoppable in the 2020 European Championship qualifiers, Andriy Shevchenko’s men are sitting in top position in Group B and they are 6/5 at 888sport to win the group. The Ukrainians are likely to stick to their attacking style of play against Nigeria and seeing that they have been creating a number of goal-scoring opportunities in recent games, we are positive that the Eastern Europe side are going to find the net in Tuesday’s friendly.
Given the Super Eagles attacking potential, we believe that there is a big value in betting on both teams to score, which is priced 6/5 at 1XBET. The two teams meet for the first time ever on the international stage, but a lively encounter is on the horizon.
Check out other Betting Odds below.
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