A prominent first team player in the Super Eagles has been sidelined by sickness and will not make the return leg of Nigeria's heated match against Egypt next week.
Carl Ikeme
Super Eagles and Wolverhampton Wanderers of England shot –stopper Carl Ikeme has been ruled out of Tuesday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in Alexandria.
Ikeme is feeling unwell and the coaches have decided not to risk him in goal on Tuesday during the all -important encounter against the Pharaohs.
Super Eagles team doctor Ibrahim Gyaran said that the goalkeeper has stomach upset which has kept him out of training since Friday’s game in Kaduna.
“After the game last Friday, Carl has been struggling with some stomach upset and it has not allowed him train with the rest of the squad,” Gyaran disclosed.
“He is stable but needs a lot of rest to be back in 100% shape for the kind of high profile game that we have on Tuesday. Considering the amount of travel involved as well, it is best we give him a break,” he added.
Reacting, Head Coach Samson Siasia has allayed fears that the absence of the goalkeeper will hamper the team’s chances of victory on Tuesday.
“We will surely miss Carl but the good thing with our team is that we have capable replacements in every department. Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa are still here and any one of these two will help us get the job done in Alexandria,” Siasia concluded.