Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr will have only 22 players at his disposal for Tuesday’s reverse fixture against Sierra Leone in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, as SSC Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen and Heartland of Owerri goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa did not travel with the team on Monday.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, while Osimhen returned early to his club after suffering a shoulder injury in last Friday’s first leg, which ended in an embarrassing 4-4 draw for the Nigerian team at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Ezenwa had not been officially invited in the first place.
Ezenwa only got the chance to train with the squad due to the late arrival of Daniel Akpeyi from Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa, but, with stand-in first choice, Emil Maduka Okoye allowing in four goals on his competitive debut, the onus might fall on the late arrival to step in between the sticks this time out.
While Ezenwa and Osimhen did not travel to Freetown with the squad, Rohr might still have his options limited to only 20 players, as the duo of Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal of Spain and Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure from Club Brugge of Belgium had both been nursing various shades of injuries before leaving Benin City.
Bonaventure copped a knock in the final training before Friday’s match, while Chukwueze bowed out in pain during that game, same as did Leon Aderemi Balogun, who also had to be replaced after showing some discomfort midway through the second half, and his exit marked the beginning of the Eagles’ implosion.
It means Rohr might end up in a tight spot with his options and depth on Tuesday, even as he spoke eloquently about redemption for his squad on arrival in Freetown at noon on Monday, following which the squad had their only official training at the match venue, Siaka Stevens Stadium.
Three goalkeepers that made the trip to Freetown are Daniel Akpeyi from Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa, Sebastian Osigwe from FC Lugano of Switzerland and Emil Maduka Okoye from Sparta Rotterdam of Holland, as well as three midfielders in Alex Iwobi from Everton of England, Oghenekaro Etebo from Galatasaray of Turkey and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo from Glasgow Rangers of Scotland.
The defenders include Tyronne Ebuehi from FC Twente of Holland, Leon Aderemi Balogun from Glasgow Rangers of Scotland, Abdullahi Shehu from Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus, Chidozie Awaziem from Boavista of Portugal, William Troost-Ekong from Watford of England, Ola Aina from Fulham of England, Jamilu Collins from SC Paderborn of Germany, Semi Ajayi from West Bromwich Albion of England, Zaidu Sanusi from FC Porto of Portugal and Kevin Akpoguma from TSG Hoffenheim of Germany.
Also listed are six forwards in Alex Iwobi from Everton of England, Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure from Club Brugge of Belgium, Paul Ebere Onuachu from Racing Genk of Belgium, Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal of Spain, Kelechi Iheanacho from Leicester City of England, Chidera Ejuke from CSKA Moscow of Russia and skipper Ahmed Musa, who is currently clubless after leaving Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia.
