STANLEY Nwabali will return for the Super Eagles this evening when they face Angola in their AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash in Abijdan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The Chippa United goalkeeper was stretchered off in the 80th minute of the round of 16 encounter against Cameroon on Saturday after sustaining an injury.
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro said yesterday that Nwabali would undergo a late fitness test to determine his readiness for the match, and team line-up leaks today claim the 27-year-old will be in goal against the Palancas Negras.
According to the widely circulated leaked Super Eagles line-up, there will be no changes from the started XI against Cameroon, with Peseiro retaining his 3-4-3 formation.
In front of Nwabali will be the three centre-backs Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi and captain William Troost-Ekong.
Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi will be the wing-backs, with Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi in central midfield.
The front three will consist of Ademola Lookman, who scored the two goals against Cameroon, Moses Simon and African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen.
Peseiro has plenty of quality to call on from the substitutes bench, including Kenneth Omeruo, Alhassan Yusuf, Samuel Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu and Raphael Onyedika among others.
The quarter-final clash between three-time African champions Nigeria and Angola, who are eyeing their first-ever AFCON semi-final, will kick off at 6pm Nigerian time at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abijdan today.
EXPECTED SUPER EAGLES LINE-UP VS ANGOLA
Stanley Nwabali; Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong; Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi; Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen.
