Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr is facing a palpable selection problem ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Benin on Wednesday, reports www.aclsports.com
With less than 48 hours to the important encounter, Rohr is still without many of his invited players; including vice-captain William Ekong and rising youngster Samuel Chukwueze.
Only fourteen players had arrived in Uyo, venue of Wednesday’s game as at Monday afternoon and they all participated in the Super Eagles’ first training session at the Ibom Hotel Golf Resort.
Team captain Ahmed Musa and the three invited goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi and Maduka Okoye were among the players that trained on Monday evening.
The team is expected to have a full house for Tuesday’s training session but that would just be barely 24 hours to the Group L opener.
Meanwhile, Rohr has called up Enyimba defender Ifeanyi Anaemena as a replacement for Locomotiv Moscow defender Bryan Idowu who has withdrawn from the game due to injury.
Anaemena is highly rated as one of the best defenders in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and shone in the home based side’s 2-0 win over Togo last month in Lagos.
Players in camp:
Ahmed Musa, Jamilu Collins, Wilfred Ndidi, Chidozie Awaziem, Semi Ajayi, Maduka Okoye, Alex Iwobi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Samuel Kalu, Ken Omeruo, Ramon Azeez, Ola Aina, Daniel Akpeyi, Victor Osimhen.
Expected:
William Ekong
Ifeanyi Anaemena
Abdullahi Shehu
Mikel Agu
Joseph Ayodele-Aribo
Moses Simon
Samuel Chukwueze
Paul Onuachu
Emmanuel Dennis.
