Turkey-based central defender Kenneth Omeruo will be expected to start for the Super Eagles Tuesday night against Mali after a training ground injury kept him out of the first friendly against Ghana.
Omeruo will be picked ahead of Tanzania-based Benjamin Tanimu, who posted a useful Super Eagles debut but ran out of gas late on and had to be replaced.
The Kasimpasa skipper is the most senior international in Marrekesh, Morocco.
He did not enjoy regular game time at the recent AFCON as then Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro went with a trio of William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi in defence.
AFCON MVP Ekong was not called up for these series of friendlies as he has only undergone surgery, while Bassey has returned to England for more medical attention after injury did not allow him to play against Ghana.
