Port Said, Egypt (PANA) - The battle for the replacement of Nigeria's Super Eagles captain Austin 'Jay-Jay Okocha has taken a fresh dimension as youthful midfielder John Mikel Obi seemed poised to snatch a starting place from much publicized Wilson Oruma when Nigeria and Senegal clash in the crucial last Group D match 31 January in Port Said.

Obi, who came in as second half substitute for Oruma in Thursday's 2-0 win against Zimbabwe, changed the tempo of the game as he assisted Christian Obodo to get the opener before sealing the win three minutes later.

His debut match has won him the confidence to the technical crew led by head coach Austin Eguavoen, and speculations in the Nigerian camp are that the teenage midfielder will start Tuesday's match ahead of the once favoured Oruma.

"Oruma tried his best against Zimbabwe but we are trying to see how we can get the best out of the lots that are available and it is not out of place if you see Obi starting the next match while Oruma will come up if need be," a member of the technical crew told PANA Saturday.

Before this development, Oruma had being in the news as the only replacement to ageing Okocha, plagued by injuries that have kept off the pitch since the commencement of the 25th edition of the African Cup of Nations in Egypt last week.

Okocha has also repeatedly said he would quit international football after the 2006 CAN tournament.

Meanwhile, Obi has continue to maintain silence over his transfer saga involving two top premiership clubs -- Manchester United and Chelsea -- even as he has join the train of players that causing sensation in the 2006 CAN in Egypt.

Obi revealed in an interview with PANA here on Saturday that he was under instruction from his manager not to comment on issues relating to the transfer row while at the tournament.