After almost a year without the 2013 African champions playing a single game, preparations have begun in earnest as the team get set to face the two continental giants in Austria next month
Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has revealed plans to travel down to Nigeria shortly even though the friendly matches against Tunisia and the Ivory Coast will hold in Austria in October.
The German tactician also said he is putting together the names of players with which he plans to prosecute the two clashes.
Having not played a game yet in 2020 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria is expected to parade her best legs when tackling the Carthage Eagles and the Elephants, two former African champions.
Rohr will look to count on youngsters Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, the Premier League trio of Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Kelechi Iheanacho, as well as experienced performers like William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, and Ahmed Musa.
There are likely to be new invitations extended to the duo of Kingsley Ehizibue and Cyriel Dessers, with the duo already named in Rohr’s list released in February.
The Franco-German tactician also appears keen on handing first-time call-ups to a couple of Bundesliga-based defenders, including Jordan Torunarigha and Kevin Akpoguma.
Rohr admits, though, that the resumption of top European leagues in the coming days would afford him the chance to monitor the players he intends to invite for the international friendly matches.
“We are finishing with our list for the friendly matches,” Rohr told NationSport.
“But I will watch some players in Europe before coming back to Nigeria; they are resuming playing everywhere in Europe very soon.”
The English Premier League and Spanish La Liga kick off the 2020-21 season this weekend while the Italian Serie A commences a week after on September 19.