Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has joined Nigeria’s camp in Warsaw ahead of Wednesday’s international friendly against Poland, giving head coach Eric Chelle a major boost as he targets another victory with the national team.
Bassey checked into the team’s Presidential Hotel on Tuesday, taking the number of players in camp to 20 as preparations intensified for the clash at the PGE Narodowy Stadium.
The Fulham centre-back’s arrival provides Chelle with additional options in defence, where Semi Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu and Emmanuel Fernandez are also available as Nigeria look to build on their recent Unity Cup triumph in London.
Chelle said the team would approach the encounter with a winning mentality.
He said: “Now, we have a team and we are preparing to go out there and win. Winning is the mentality that we are trying to create in the team, in the players.
“We will go for a win on Wednesday.”
Germany-based forward Philip Otele was also expected to arrive in camp on Tuesday night.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who joined the squad on Monday, immediately linked up with the team and impressed during training.He will battle Arthur Okonkwo and Francis Uzoho for a starting place.
Okonkwo kept clean sheets in his first two appearances for Nigeria during the Unity Cup campaign.
Chelle also has several options in midfield, including captain Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tochukwu Nnadi and youngster Abdullahi Bewene.
In attack, Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, Akor Adams, Rafiu Durosinmi, Terem Moffi and Otele are available for selection.
Onuachu heads into the match in high spirits after learning he had won the Turkish Super Lig Goal of the Season award. The striker was also among the standout performers in training on Monday.
Poland are expected to field a youthful side after handing opportunities to several debutants in their recent friendly against Ukraine.
Coach Jan Urban could turn to winger Jakub Kamiński, while Oskar Pietuszewski, Mateusz Żukowski, Norbert Wojtuszek, Kacper Potulski and Oskar Wójcik are also in contention.
The match will kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time in Poland and 7:45 p.m. Nigerian time at the 58,000-capacity PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw.
Super Eagles squad
Goalkeepers
Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England)
Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
Defenders
Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece)
Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
Midfielders
Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey)
Frank Onyeka (Coventry FC, England)
More details here...
