Onazi Named As Captain For Mali Friendly

Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi will captain Nigeria in their friendly game against Mali in Rouen, France, tonight.


The 23-year-old Onazi is one of the most senior players left in the squad following the withdrawals of captain Mikel Obi and his vice-captain Ahmed Musa, as well as Victor Moses.

And he will be handed the captain’s armband when the Super Eagles line out against their Malian counterparts.

“(Ogenyi) Onazi will captain the team against Mali barring any last minute change, but I don’t even see that happening because he has been told by the coach that he will lead the team,” an official of the team told reporters.

The captain’s armband in the Super Eagles is usually given to the most senior or longest serving player in the squad, a category Brown Ideye falls into, given his age and how long he has been playing for the team, but Onazi has been the most consistent over the last three years.

The Super Eagles will also play Luxembourg on the 31st in Luxembourg City in the last of the two friendlies.

Kick-off time is 7pm.