Football
Ed Dove, Special to ESPN 6y

Five unanswered questions for Nigeria vs. Poland

Nigeria's World Cup preparations have largely been serene, and the Super Eagles ostensibly head to Russia in fine fettle after cruising though Africa's Group of Death in qualification and dispatching Argentina in an international friendly.

However, beneath the surface, there are still several unresolved issues for coach Gernot Rohr address during Friday's friendly against Poland in Wroclaw.

1. Who starts between the sticks?

The identity of Nigeria's first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup remains a mystery, with a handful of keepers in the running following Vincent Enyeama's international retirement and Carl Ikeme's leukaemia diagnosis.

Ikechukwu Ezenwa may be the favourite, but after a few nervy displays in qualification - and for Enyimba in the CAF Confederation Cup - alternatives have been sought.

Deportivo La Coruna wonderkid Francis Uzoho is an intriguing prospect for the future, and made his Nigeria debut in the victory over Argentina.

However, is Rohr genuinely considering a 19-year-old with only two La Liga appearances under his belt as a potential first-choice at the World Cup?

If he starts against Poland on Friday, we may have our answer.

2. Do the other CHAN stars have a role to play?

Beyond Ezenwa, who skippered the home-based Super Eagles to the final of the African Nations Championship in Morocco last month, two other members of Salisu Yusuf's squad were included by Rohr.

Centre-back Stephen Eze secured a move to Lokomotiv Plovdiv during the tournament, but appears likely to play a back-up role at best, but could striker Gabriel Okechukwu emerge as a late contender for a World Cup berth?

The powerful forward was the hero as Akwa United won the Aiteo Cup last year, and also made two decisive contributions during the CHAN.

With Junior Ajayi injured and Anthony Nwakaeme struggling for form, the door has opened for the powerful hitman to make an impression. An eye-catching contribution against Poland would certainly go down well!

3. Where else will the goals come from?

While Okechukwu likely to play a cameo role at best, Rohr still needs to configure his attacking options in order to forge the most potent offensive unit possible.

There are concerns here, with Kelechi Iheanacho struggling for form all season - he's yet to net in the Premier League for Leicester City - and Odion Ighalo only just getting his new season underway in China.

Goals can come from elsewhere in the team, from Alex Iwobi or Victor Moses, for example, but with so many forwards injured or out of sorts, an impotent attacking display against Poland might raise alarm bells.

4. Will Rohr shuffle his options at full-back?

Happily, an area of strength has become an area of weakness for Nigeria, with Rohr now able to call upon several talented full-back options.

Elderson Echiejile and Abdullahi Shehu were his first-choice pairing during the qualifiers, but the emergence of Ola Aina - a versatile and attacking option - gives the German tactician a nice conundrum to resolve.

Will he stick with Elderson and Shehu for the Poland game, or will he see whether the inexperienced Aina - arguably an upgrade on either - is up to the task?

Brian Idowu and Tyronne Ebuehi wait in the wings as tantalising options.

5. Who will replace John Obi Mikel in midfield?

Nigeria will be without arguably their most important player for the Poland game, with Mikel absent due to work permit problems.

He'll be missed, with few other African midfielders able to dictate the tempo, create goalscoring opportunities from deep or exert their authority on a contest quite like Mikel.

With him absent, and his likely replacement Oghenekaro Etebo also missing, John Ogu is the favourite to step into the midfield alongside Ogenyi Onazi and Wilfred Ndidi.

Defensively sound, Ogu doesn't have Mikel's same composure in possession, and a more popular choice with the purists might be the returning Joel Obi.

The Torino man's career has been blighted by injury, but now fit again - and impressing in Serie A - things may be aligned for him to make up for lost time as Nigeria's creator-in-chief.

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