The Nigeria squad has been further depleted following Friday’s friendly against the Indomitable Lions in Austria, where they lost for the first time in 21 years
Nigeria will be without the services of William Troost Ekong and Jamilu Collins when they take on the Indomitable Lions in the second leg of their international friendly on Tuesday, June 8.
Both players have been ruled out due to the injuries they picked up during Friday’s 1-0 defeat at the Wiener Neustadt Stadion, Soccernet.ng has learned.
Ekong was substituted in the 90th minute as he fell unchallenged due to what looked like a pulled hamstring. The Super Eagles co-captain was in a lot of pain as he was assisted off the pitch by medical staff.
He was replaced by Galatasaray defender Valentine Ozornwafor, who made his Super Eagles debut. It is likely he will start the second game on Tuesday with the Nigeria squad now depleted.
Ozorwafor was a former captain of the U-20 team and had not seen action with the Eagles despite being invited in the past.
Collins finished the game, but it emerged he picked up a knock in the game. Coach Gernot Rohr is now left to find a replacement for the left-back who plays at Paderborn in Germany.
Nigeria came into these matches already short-handed due to the absence of six players. Key starters Victor Osimhen, Joe Aribo, Samuel Chukwueze and defenders Leon Balogun, Ola Aina and Kevin Akpoguma all dropped out due to injuries.
Let the super eagles win this match, this will enable the Nigerian move up in the FIFA ranking