Napoli’s star forward, Victor Osimhen, and Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi have been sidelined from Nigeria’s upcoming friendly matches against Ghana and Mali.
The Super Eagles camp, which opened on Tuesday, will proceed without the services of Osimhen, who has been grappling with fitness concerns in recent weeks, as confirmed by the team’s social media update.
Joining Osimhen on the sidelines is Awoniyi, who, despite a recent recovery from a prolonged injury lay-off, remains unavailable for selection. Tyronne Ebuehi, nursing an injury sustained in Empoli’s match against Bologna, and Luton’s Gabriel Osho, who received his first call-up to the national team, will also miss out on the games.
Despite these setbacks, Nigeria’s camp in Marrakech, Morocco, is teeming with talent, with many familiar faces from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad already in attendance. The likes of Cyril Dessers, Nathan Tella, and Stanley Nwabali are among the players present, with more expected to join them as preparations intensify.
George Finidi, serving as the team’s assistant coach following the departure of former head coach Jose Peseiro, will lead Nigeria in the upcoming matches. The search for Peseiro’s successor is currently underway.
Meanwhile, Ghana will be without key players Thomas Partey and Joseph Painstil for the clash against Nigeria. Partey, still recovering from injury, has opted to prioritize regaining full fitness, while Painstil’s move to the United States necessitates immigration procedures that prevent him from traveling outside the country until completed.
In addition, Inaki Williams has withdrawn from the games to focus on recuperating from recent injury setbacks, as confirmed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).