Last-minute replacement Sabiu Ibrahim pushing for surprise Flying Eagles start

Late replacement for Daniel Daga, Niger Tornadoes exciting midfielder Sabiu Ibrahim is now pushing to start today for the Flying Eagles at the U20 AFCON qualifiers in Togo.

Sabiu has only trained a handful of times with the Flying Eagles, but his quality is already evident, it was reliably gathered.

In the absence of Daga, coach Aliyu Zubairu is most likely to start Raphael Oyebanjo as the main defensive midfielder in his favoured 4-3-3 formation.

However, Sabiu’s class has shone through within such a short with the team that may now give the coach a selection headache.

Another selection poser will be who starts in goal, the giant Nathaniel Nwosu or Harcourt Ebenezer from Sporting Lagos?

Nwosu was outstanding in Niamey, Niger Republic, two years ago, while Ebenezer shone at the recent Gothia Cup in Sweden, where his team Sporting Lagos emerged champions on their debut.

Also, Clinton Jephta from Enyimba will battle another Gothia Cup star Musa Akinfenwa for who will start on the right wing.