2022WCQ: Covid-19 knocks Ebuehi, Kalu out for Eagles

Europe based stars Tyrone Ebuehi and Samuel Kalu tested positive for Covid-19 and have been knocked out of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde, adding more worries to the Super Eagles camp.

The Nigerian side are already depleted after no fewer than eight players returned to the United Kingdom after Friday’s win over Liberia due to Cape Verde’s placement in the red list for Covid by the United Kingdom.

After last weekend’s training, the Nigerian side once again undertook their mandatory Covid-19 tests which brought positive results for Italy based Ebuehi and France based Kalu.

Both players are now ruled out of Tuesday’s crucial fixture against the Blue Sharks in Mindelo, leaving Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr to do more tinkering to his side that will now be without ten players in enforced situations.

With Ebuehi absent, Rohr will have to call on either Cyprus-based Abdullahi Shehu or in-demand defender Chidozie Awaziem for the right back position. Shehu had earlier been touted to take one of the midfield positions in the absence of UK based trio; Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Joe Aribo.

Kalu lost his starting shirt to Daddy Moses Simon against Liberia and the Nantes winger is expected to continue in that position for the Super Eagles.

Tuesday’s game is billed to kick off at 3pm local time (5pm in Nigeria) at the 5,000 capacity Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena.