Nigeria’s senior men national team, the Super Eagles on Monday begun preparations for their upcoming games with more news of key players ruled out with injuries.
Nigeria will face Algeria in a purely academical final group game in their 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers on Friday in Constantine before traveling to Russia to face World Cup favourites, Argentina in Krasnodar next Tuesday.
The Super Eagles’ preparations for the games have been hit with withdrawals of national team regulars in the past one week, due to injury.
China-based striker Odion Ighalo was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury last week added to long-term absentees Victor Moses and Elderson Echiejile.
Last weekend’s round of league matches also came with its cost as vice captain Ogenyi Onazi and winger Daddy Moses Simon joined the growing list of injured players.
Due to the spate of injuries, the Super Eagles’ head coach Gernot Rohr has called up Turkey based defender Kenneth Omeruo and Spain based striker Olanrewaju Kayode in place of Onazi and Simon respectively.
Meanwhile, team captain John Mikel Obi is expected to join the team at their camp base in Rabat, Morocco on Tuesday same as goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi and Francis Uzoho.
All members of the technical crew and backroom staff arrived in Rabat on Sunday, alongside four players: Ahmed Musa, Wilfred Ndidi, Mikel Agu and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
On Monday, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alex Iwobi, Olanrewaju Kayode, Henry Onyekuru, Chidiebere Nwakali, Kelechi Iheanacho, Uche Agbo and Chidozie Awaziem arrived in Casablanca just after noon, and were immediately driven to Rabat.
The team will fly from Rabat to Constantine, venue of Friday’s game against the Fennec Foxes on the morning of Match Day.
