Nigeria predicted lineup, expected starting 11, team news and squad for Benin match: Osimhen returns for showdown with former boss

Nigeria are on the brink of securing qualification to next year's Africa Cup of Nations but have a score to settle with a familiar face against Benin. The high farce and diplomatic strife of last month's aborted away game in Libya resulted in the Nigeria being awarded the points and they only need a draw from this game or their final match against Rwanda to ensure progress from Group D. But Benin will be keen on securing another upset under former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, back at the same stadium where a 2-1 victory in June plunged the Super Eagles' World Cup qualification hopes into peril.

Below, The Sporting News predicts the Nigeria lineup for Friday's match and examines the squad available to coach Augustine Eguavoen. MORE: All the latest EPL club news | Team-by-team Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings Nigeria lineup, predicted starting 11, team news for Benin match Star striker Victor Osimhen is fit and firing once again with eight goals in nine appearances for Galatasaray this season as he returns to Super Eagles duty. Real Sociedad forward Sadiq Umar provides another option in attack on his first call-up since suffering an ACL injury.

Defender Olisa Ndah is absent once more alongside West Brom's Semi Ajayi , with Eguavon bolstering his defensive roster with Auxerre's Gabriel Osho and Victor Collins of Nigerian club Nasarawa United. Nigeria predicted XI (3-4-3, right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey — Onyemaechi, Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi — Simon, Osimhen, Lookman Full squad: Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie Defenders: William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Gabriel Osho, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Victor Collins Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, Sadiq Umar What time does Nigeria vs. Libya kick off? This AFCON qualifying clash takes place at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and kicks off at 7:00 p.

m. local time . Benin does not have a stadium with adequate facilities to the game.

Here's how that kickoff time translates across some of the major global territories: Date Kickoff time USA Thu, Nov. 14 2 p.m.

ET Canada Thu, Nov. 14 2 p.m.

ET Australia Fri, Nov. 15 6 a.m.

AEDT UK Thu, Nov. 14 7 p.m.

BST India Fri, Nov. 15 12:30 a.m.

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