Peseiro Rests Nwachukwu, Duru as Eagles Begin Training in Lagos
*S’Leone to miss seven key players in clash with Nigeria in Monrovia
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Bendel Insurance’s Divine Nwachukwu and Ebube Duru of Rivers United, two of the home-based players who just came through the NPL Championship Super 6 Playoffs in Lagos on Sunday, were exempted yesterday from Super Eagles’ first training session at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Sierra Leone this weekend.
The duo along with goalkeepers Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba) and Victor Sochima (Rivers United) are the only four players invited from the domestic league for the clash with the Leone Stars.
Super Eagles, Head Coach, Portuguese Jose Peseiro, while fielding reporters questions admitted that the likes of Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Zaidu Sanusi, Taiwo Awoniyi, Semi Ajayi, Kevin Akpoguma, Ahmed Musa and Adebayo Adeleye were already in camp.
Also in camp in Lagos are: Victor Sochima, William Troost-Ekong, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo, Moses Simon, Frank Onyeka, Ademola Lookman and Kenneth Omeruo.
Napoli front man, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal were being expected in camp as at press time last night.
Peseiro however stressed that despite the short time between now and Sunday when Super Eagles will play Sierra Leone, “We have individual talents who must play as one unit for us to achieve the result of qualifying for the AFCON 2023 and also winning it.”
Meanwhile, Leone Stars of Sierra Leone are going to be without seven of their key players when they play Nigeria in their adopted home ground at the Samuel Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia.
Amongst the players to be missed is Jonathan Morsay, the Panaitolikos’ attacker who opened scoring after 11 minutes in the June 9, 2022 encounter clash with Super Eagles at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja. He is suffering from cartilage damage to his knee.
Also sidelined is Queens Park Rangers’ defender, Osman Kakay. He too has ankle injury he sustained in March during his club’s English Championship defeat to Birmingham City.
Injury has also forced out Cambuur’s right-back, Alex Bangura. He has been unable to recover from a knock since Sierra Leone’s friendly defeat to Algeria B at the Furaijah Stadium on November 19 2022 in Dubai.
Another player who will miss the destiny-shaping duel with Nigeria is Shanghai Port’s winger, lssa Kallon, who scored in Shanghai Port’s 3-0 win over Changchun Yatai last week. His unavailability is reportedly on personal ground.
Milton Keynes Dons attacker, Sullay Kaikai, will not be part of the squad against Nigeria. He played in both matches against Sao Tome and Principe.
Egaleo’s experienced midfielder, John Kamara, was not listed by Coach John Keister due to personal issues. Kamara was part of the last four of the AFCON qualifying matches that Sierra Leone played.
Also unavailable are Alhassan Koroma and skipper Steven Caulker.
Super Eagles need a win in this match to grab the qualification ticket to AFCON 2023 with their last group match to spare.
