Everton loanee Henry Onyekuru has been giving a late call-up to replace injured Odion Ighalo for Nigeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at November 19 at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
The 29-year-old striker suffers a hamstring injury which forces him out after just 17 minutes in his side Changchun Yatai’s 2-2 home draw against Tianjin Quanjin on Wednesday in the Chinese Super League.
Ighalo underwent a scan on Thursday morning which determined that he will spend 4-5 weeks on the sidelines and he will miss Changchun Yatai’s last league match of the season against Dalian Yifang, a big loss to the club who are fighting to escape the drop.
Former Watford and Udinese star have found back of the net six times in his last three games for Super Eagles and Gernot Rohr handed a late call to Onyekuru only returned to action last weekend for his Turkish club, Galatasaray after picking up an injury in Nigeria’s last qualifying fixture against Libya in Sfax, Tunisia.
Enyimba’s Theophilus Afelokhai has also been giving a nod to come in for Elche of Spain goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho has already been ruled out of the game through injury.
Nigeria top Group E with nine points, one more than Bafana Bafana who sit in second position with eight points. Libya occupy third position with four points, while Seychelles, at the bottom, have one point.
The Super Eagles will aim to avenge their 2-0 loss to the Bafana Bafana in the reverse fixture at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo last year.
1.@henryconyekuru replaces injured @ighalojude for game against South Africa. #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong #Afcon2019Q
No comments:
Post a Comment