The head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will have to do without the services of one of the key midfielders in team when they play in the 2026 world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle will be in charge of the team for the first time in March when they travel to play Rwanda in Kigali before hosting Zimbabwe in two crucial games in the race to be at the next World Cup.
5th placed Super Eagles will be looking for their first win in the series against group leaders Rwanda who are four points clear of Nigeria, but top of the group on goal difference ahead of South Africa and Benin Republic respectively.
Nigeria’s search for a win will have to be without the services of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru who has emerged as a starter for the team, and scored the leveler in the 1-1 draw at home against South Africa.
Dele-Bashiru was subbed off early in Lazio’s game at the weekend against Venezia, and test has shown that he suffered an ankle sprain, which will keep him out for twenty days. Effectively ruling him out from tonight’s Coppa Italia game against Inter Milan, and also games Milan in the league and probably both matches against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, as well as the match against Udinese and most likely also the one against Bologna.
He is expected to be back in April, when the Super Eagles would have played both games in the world cup qualifiers.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
