Goalkeeper Samuel Okani is the only player Nigeria will start in Friday night’s opening U20 World Cup match from the team who lost to Portugal at the Toulon International Tournament recently.
Portugal won the match in Toulon 2-1, but will now face an entirely changed team inside the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri from 7pm Nigerian time.
Olympiacos of Greece attacking midfielder Michael Olaitan is
the only player who did not feature at the recent African Youth Championship in Algeria, where the Flying Eagles finished third.
He will play alongside skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun in a very offensive 4-3-3 formation.
The Flying Eagles will be relying on the pace and endeavour of Olanrewaju Kayode, the guile of Sporting Braga-bound Chidi Osuchukwu and the goals of Umar Aminu to unlock a well-organised Portugal defence.
The Portugal defence has David Luis-lookalike Tiago Ferreira, who was also at Colombia 2011, and Tiago Ilori, whose father is Nigerian.
Striker Bruma and right back Joao Cancelo have been added to the squad from Toulon after they could not be in France because of an engagement with the country’s U19 team.
Two-time champions Portugal are sweating on the fitness of centre-forward Aladje.
•Flying Eagles Vs. Portugal
Samuel Okani – Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Madu, Chizoba Amaefule, Ikechukwu Okorie – Ovbokha Agboyi, Michael Olaitan, Abduljaleel Ajagun – Kayode Olanrewaju, Umar Aminu, Chidi Osuchukwu
Kick off-7pm
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