Bonaventure, Iheanacho Battle Osimhen, Onuachu For Strikers’ Spots In Benin

Two in-form strikers at club level, Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure from Club Brugge of Belgium and Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City in England got bragging rights ahead of all other attackers in the Super Eagles’ camp, following their presence at the commencement of training in Benin City.

Megasportsarena.com reports that, if the factor of early birds is to be a consideration in handing out starting shirts for Friday’s game at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in the Edo State capital, then Bonaventure and Iheanacho would be the lads to flaunt, as they were present from the word go.

That was in contrast with the stories of SSC Napoli of Italy sensation, Victor Osimhen and Paul Ebere Onuachu from Racing Genk of Belgium, as they were both missing when Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr set preparations in motion for Friday’s first leg against The Leone Stars.

In a development that could leave Rohr scratching his head over his next line of action, two of his preferred strikers, Osimhen and Onuachu did not commence training with the squad on Tuesday, as the Franco-German gaffer put his players through a recovery process to set his plans in motion.

Rohr handed a late call-up to Heartland of Owerri goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, meaning there are four goalkeepers re now available for selection including FC Lugano of Swaziland’s Sebastian Osigwe and Sparta Rotterdam of Holland’s Emil Maduka Okoye, as well as late arrival from Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa, Daniel Akpeyi, who faced flight hitches from his base.

Those that participated in the first training session included Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, Kevin Akpoguma, Zaidu Sanusi, Tyronne Ebuehi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Chidozie Awaziem, Iheanacho and Bonaventure

Apart from Akpeyi, the two players handed late call-ups in the form of Abdullahi Shehu and Onuachu also did participate in the workout, while the roll call of absentees also included Osimhen, West Brom’s Semi Ajayi, SC Paderborn’s Jamilu Collins, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and CSKA Moscow’s Chidera Ejuke.

It is left to be seen of Osimhen will be part of Friday’s game, as officials at his Italian Serie A club had earlier expressed misgivings over letting him travel to Nigeria amidst fresh fears of the coronavirus pandemic in Italy and other European countries.

That brings back memories of how an outbreak of COVID-19 at Napoli’s base last month prevented Osimhen from honouring the Eagles’ two international friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia in Austria, such that there appears to be a case of de javu.

An air of foreboding indicates that the Eagles might end up being without their most important player so far in the AFCON 2021 qualifiers in terms of goal contribution, having recorded three goals and two assists so far, which represents 83.3 percent of the team’s recent goals.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Melvin Amaju Pinnick revealed that a new flight ticket had been sent to Osimhen, after the lad’s earlier booking had been cancelled, but Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr had to turn his focus on Iheanacho and Onuachu, as well as Villarreal of Spain winger Samuel Chukwueze, CSKA Moscow dribbler Chidera Ejuke and team captain, Ahmed Musa in attacking positions for Wednesday’s workout.