Ndidi leads Eagles for Poland friendly

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has joined the rest of the squad in Warsaw ahead of Wednesday’s international friendly against Poland, PidomNigeria Sports Extra reports.

Ndidi and other stars such as Moses Simon and Akor Adams were named in the squad for the June international window but were absent as a new-look Eric Chelle side won the Unity Cup title in London at The Valley, Charlton Athletic stadium.

The team arrived in the Polish capital on Monday and held their first training session under light rain at the Stadion Polonii Warsaw, ahead of their clash at the PGE Narodowy Stadium on Wednesday.

According to the team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, 18 players arrived in Poland, but only 16 took part in the session.

The players in camp include goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and Arthur Okonkwo.

Ndidi, Simon and Adams were joined by Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi, who captained the team in London, Tochukwu Nnadi, Emmanuel Fernandez, Semi Ajayi, Rafiu Durosinmi, Zaidu Sanusi, Igho Ogbu, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi and Banik Ostrava midfielder Abdullahi Ibrahim.

After facing Poland on Wednesday, the Super Eagles will travel to Portugal, where they will take on the Selecao in their final World Cup tune-up game of the current international window.

Chelle, fresh from leading the Eagles to retain the Unity Cup in London, is looking forward to Wednesday’s game with optimism.

“There is a culture of winning that we are trying to build in this team, and that mentality is important. You can say that it is difficult to have games at this time because the players have been in holiday mood for about two weeks, but the job must be done.

“We have 18 players in camp now and we will work with that. Everybody must work hard and we will go into the match with the determination to win.”

Ahead of the friendlies, Chelle had lamented the absences of 2023 and 2024 African Players of the Year, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

The Franco-Malian coach will also be without midfielder Alhassan Yusuf and Samuel Chukwueze, who recently buried his mother in Imo State.