NEYMAR, FIRMINO TOP BRAZIL SQUAD TO FACE NIGERIA, SENEGAL
Brazil have announced a
strong 23-man squad for two international friendlies against Senegal and
Nigeria.
In a series of tweets on
its official Twitter handle, the Brazil Football Federation on Friday named
Paris Saint-Germain forward, Neymar, Liverpool’s Firmino, and Real Madrid
midfielder Casemiro in the squad.
Nigeria and Brazil will square
up in an anticipated encounter at the Singapore National Stadium, Kallang, on
October 13, 23 years after Nigeria, on their way to winning Africa’s first
Olympic football gold, spanked the Selecao in the semi-finals at the Athens
Stadium in the State of Georgia, USA.
Efforts to match the two
teams in a friendly match after that spectacular game came to naught for
several years, until the organizers of the 8th All-Africa Games that Nigeria
hosted in 2003 flew the Brazilians to Abuja in June of that year. Brazil won
3-0.
There has been no
competitive tie between both countries’ senior teams since that memorable U23
match in Georgia, and next month’s session will test the character of the
Eagles who are building a new team after a rash of retirements and injuries to
key players.
That new breed came close
to shocking Ukraine in a friendly match in Dnipro a week ago, before bungling a
two-goal lead to stalemate at 2-2.
“We are happy to have
sealed this encounter with Brazil, the five-time champions of the world. It is
not every day that you get to Brazil, and I think it is very good for our young
team,” NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said recently.
The Super Eagles have two
2021 AFCON qualifying dates in November. After hosting the Squirrels of Benin
Republic on November 14, they will fly to Maseru for a Day Two encounter with
the Crocodiles of Lesotho on November 19.
Full
squad
Goalkeepers
Ederson,
Weverton,
Santos
Defenders
Daniel Alves,
Danilo,
Alex Sandro,
Renan Lodi,
Thiago Silva,
Marquinhos,
Éder Militão,
Rodrigo Caio
Midfielders
Casemiro,
Arthur,
Fabinho,
Matheus
Henrique,
Coutinho,
Lucas Paquetá
Forwards
Everton,
Firmino,
Gabriel Barbosa,
Richarlison,
Neymar Jr,
Gabriel Jesus
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