Super Eagles head coach, Erich Chelle, has drafted in Crystal Palace midfielder Christantus Uche and Porto defender Zaidu Sanusi for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, www.aclsports.com reports.
Several Nigerian players have been battling injuries since the last international break, when Ola Aina and Victor Osimhen were ruled out of action; however, the latter has since returned to action.
In recent weeks, the likes of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika have also been sidelined at their clubs due to varying injury problems. They were rightly omitted from Nigeria’s squad for the next set of games against Lesotho and Benin.
As shared on the team’s official X page, Cyriel Dessers and Bright Osayi-Samuel have now been sidelined, with Christantus Uche and Zaidu Sanusi called up as their replacements ahead of the crucial games.
It is a return to the team for Sanusi, who was part of the side at the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, after a year due to multiple injuries. Christantus, on the other hand, is looking to establish himself in the team after his competitive debut in the last window.
Meanwhile, Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu involvement is also in doubt as the fullback went off injured in his club’s Bundesliga game against St. Pauli on Saturday.
Nigeria, now in third place and only three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, tackle the Likuena (Crocodiles) of Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10th October in a Matchday 9 encounter, before flying from South Africa to Uyo to battle leaders Benin Republic in a fiery final Matchday game on Tuesday, 14th October.
