Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle is facing an uphill task to get four players of the senior national team of Nigeria ready for their world cup qualifiers games in March, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle who will be in charge of the team for the first time in the world cup 2026 qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively will likely be without the services of four senior players including captain of the team William Troost-Ekong.
Ekong was substituted in Al-Khalood 0-2 loss to Oruba a week ago, and miss the entirety of yesterday’s 1-0 win over Al-Wehda. Reports say he is likely to be unavailable for tomorrow’s game against Al-Hilal if he fails a fitness test.
Returning defender Semi Ajayi was subbed off after 41 minutes of their 2-0 win over Oxford United, early diagnosis say he suffered a relapse of the injury that kept him out since November last year.
Midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is another who is a huge concern after coming off Lazio’s 0-0 draw against Venezia in the 41st minute due to a knock.
It’s the same story for fellow midfielder Raphael Onyedika who was also subbed of after 23 minutes in Club Brugge’s 1-2 loss to Standard Liege in the Belgium top division.
We reliably gathered that Chelle has already started preparation for their likely absence which three players on standby in the event that any of the aforementioned plahers failed to make it in time for both games.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
