Finidi drops early clues about starting lineup, Super Eagles captain against Bafana Bafana

Ahead of his first competitive game as substantive coach of Nigeria's senior national team, George Finidi dropped early clues about his starting lineup and captain for Friday's game at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, under the lights. 

The Ajax Amsterdam legend selected Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho to accompany him to the pre-match press conference, suggesting that he plans to include the Leicester City duo in the starting lineup.

Iheanacho and Ndidi were handed starting berths for Nigeria's back-to-back friendlies against Ghana and Mali, with Finidi in the dugout in an interim capacity. 

The Foxes players have a head start on their rivals for a starting spot given that they were among the first set of invited Super Eagles players to report for international duty in Uyo. 

It is customary for Nigeria coaches to pick the captain for press conferences, and all signs suggest that Ndidi will lead his teammates onto the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium turf on Friday evening. 

Senior players Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, and Moses Simon, all of whom have previously worn the captain's armband, have not been invited for the World Cup qualifying matches. 

During his media briefing before the start of camp, Finidi asserted that the players would choose the new captain of the Super Eagles.

The 2023 African Inter-Club Player of the Year, Percy Tau, accompanied Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos to the pre-match press conference, a clue that the former Mamelodi Sundowns forward will start against the Super Eagles.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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