Players of the senior national team of Nigeria yesterday had their first training session ahead of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
All of the 23 players invited for the game are already in the camp of the team training for the game and just before their first training session yesterday, the players were allowed to interact with the press and others present.
Six of the players while speaking on the absence of some players were concerned over the exclusion of Fenerbahçe defender Bright Osayi- Samuel. The 25 year old has cemented the right full back spot of the team but this time around was summoned for the game.
” Na true oh (It’s true) , where is Osayi-Samuel?”, one of the players said while speaking on the players he thought should have been here but didn’t make the list. “Osayi-Samuel is not here”, that a surprise because he seems to have found favour in the eyes of the coach” another player said while responding to the same question on shock omissions from the team.
From our checks , his non invitation for the game isn’t injury related as he made his full return from the knock that kept him out of the last two games for his team with a goal against Ankaragucu in what was his first 90 minutes of the season.
The move to leave him out by coach Jose Peseiro is more connected to the desire of the Portuguese to properly evaluate the duo of Tyronne Ebuehi and Ola Aina. He wants to use the opportunity to assess them ahead of the World Cup qualifiers which starts in November.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
