Eagles Debutants Troost-Ekong, Madu & Esiti to Start against Chad

Coach of the Nigeria senior national team, Stephen Keshi, has included newly-invited trio of William Troost-Ekong, Kingsley Madu and Anderson Esiti in his starting XI for Saturday afternoon kick-off against Chad.

Nigeria will open their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification campaign against Group D foes and lowly ranked Les Sao at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna looking to hit the ground running.

It will be the first meeting at senior international level between the three-time African champions and Chad; a side placed 129 spots below the Super Eagles in the Fifa rankings table.

On-loan FC Dordrecht centre-back Troost-Ekong and left-back Madu, who plies his trade for AS Trencin in Slovakia, will partner Leon Balogun and Keneth Omeruo in a four-man defense.
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Fellow newcomer Esiti of Portuguese side Estoril will play a holding midfield role, policing the back-four.

Warri Wolves striker Gbolahan Salami will star in a three-man attacking formation which includes Aaron Samuel and Ahmed Musa.

Nigeria XI v Chad (4-3-3): Enyeama (c); Balogun, Omeruo, Troost-Ekong, Madu; Esiti, Onazi, Babatunde; Salami, Samuel, Musa. KO: 4pm NGA time.