CHAN 2024: Flying Eagles star drafted in as Chelle’s Nigeria battle injury blow before Sudan tie

Nigeria’s preparations for the must-win African Nations Championship (CHAN) clash with Sudan have been hit by injury, prompting head coach Eric Chelle to call up teenage goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt as late reinforcement, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 16-year-old shot-stopper, fresh from helping the Flying Eagles reach the final of last month’s WAFU B U20 Cup, has joined the Super Eagles B camp in Zanzibar. He replaces injured first-choice keeper Ani Ozoemena, who will play no further part in the tournament.

Harcourt’s inclusion is a significant twist to Chelle’s original selection plans. The youngster had earlier been named in the coach’s provisional 35-man list for CHAN 2024 but was omitted from the final squad after also making the Flying Eagles’ roster.

Instead, Chelle opted for Ozoemena Ani, Mustapha Lawal, and Badmus Nurudeen as his three goalkeepers for the tournament.

However, disaster struck on the eve of Nigeria’s opening game against defending champions Senegal when Ani picked up an injury. Ani's deputy, Lawal, started in goal but a costly mistake gifted Senegal the winning goal in a narrow 1-0 defeat.

With Ani now ruled out of Tuesday’s fixture against Sudan, Chelle has turned to Harcourt to provide fresh competition between the posts.

“Left-back Taiwo Abdulrafiu is okay. However, the reality is that Ani Ozoemena is injured, and we just had to bring Ebenezer in, and I trust him,” Chelle said at his pre-match press conference, adding that the teenager could be in line for his senior debut.

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Chelle is confident the setback will not derail Nigeria’s campaign. The Franco-Malian coach promised his side would deliver a performance to remember.

“We are focused on our next game. This game against Sudan is a big game for us. Last training session for us today to be ready for tomorrow,” Chelle said. “I just want to win the game. The game will have a lot of intensity.

“I don’t think about what happened before. I’m just focused on the game tomorrow. I think about a positive attitude, and work on our mistakes.

“We need to win. This game is very important. If we win this game, we will become more ambitious. We have worked very hard in the past week, and tomorrow, we will play the best game of our lives.”

Nigeria face Sudan in a repeat of the CHAN 2018 semi-final, a fixture the Eagles won 1-0. Kick-off at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar is at 6pm Nigerian time.