Afelokhai, Akpeyi to play 45 minutes each. Super Eagles technical adviser Gernot Rohr has stated that fringe players will be given the opportunity to try out their skills and worth when the team face the Cranes of Uganda in Asaba by 4:30pm today.
Speaking to the press at the Stephen Keshi stadium, Rohr also said goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa will not feature in the match as opportunities will be given to Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi and Enyimba International shot stopper Theophilus Afelokhai.
Rohr said “The two goalkeepers who did not play in South Africa will be given opportunities to show themselves in Asaba, 45 minutes each for the two goalkeepers, we can make six changes. It’s good to see everybody, it’s not the result that is most important but what we like to do is to celebrate with our fans the AFCON qualification so we want to have a good moment, a good game without injuries.
The team from Uganda is also in the same position as us; they have qualified for the AFCON, they got 13 points only one draw and they never lost and they have a very good team so it’s going to be an interesting match”
Nigeria last played the Cranes of Uganda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on March 25, 2015 winning the game by a goal to nil. Uganda star goalkeeper Dennis Oyango has been dropped ahead of the tie.
Uganda qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Cape Verde 1-0 in Kampala on Saturday. Patrick Kaddu scored the goal for the Cranes, who needed to avoid defeat to go through.