The Super Eagles in training
Sunday Oliseh could not have picked a better opponent for his second and third competitive games as Super Eagles coach.
With his team still undergoing chopping and changing, it would not have been the best of times to get entangled with more formidable opposition, as DRC proved in their 2-0 friendly win last month.
Swaziland may be one of the lowest-ranked teams on the continent, but their performance against Guinea, and their destruction of Djibouti is a testament to their hardwork, discipline and team chemistry.
It is an advantage that a team like that, with all players based and playing locally, have over Nigeria's motley crew of assembled parts.
Oliseh appears to be gradually settling on his best team. A combination of injuries and withdrawals mean that the starting eleven all bit pick themselves.
This is a game that the Super Eagles are expected to win. While a draw would not be a bad result, it would be an unwelcome outcome. And Oliseh will certainly expect to get plenty of lip in that eventuality.
Recalls for Obafemi Martins and a first call up for Kelechi Iheanacho has ramped up the excitement levels. Now, his team must translate that to a stirring win.
His squad had their training session held up for 40 minutes on Thursday night because the floodlights at the stadium were turned off soon after the team arrived at the match venue.
But feathers were smoothed with an apology and the team held their official training session.
That slight hiccup should and has done nothing to dampen player spirits and a win is expected on Friday night.
PREDICTED LINEUP
Ikeme, Shehu, Efe, Oboabona, Echiejile; Onazi, Mikel, Igbonu; Musa, Ighalo, Simon
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