Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has handed a late invitation to Omonia Nicosia defender Shehu Abdullahi ahead of the team’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone.
Abdullahi who is one of the seven players on standby for the games replaces Midtjylland midfielder Frank Onyeka who sustained a shoulder injury in his club’s 4-0 thrashing of FC Copenhagen on Sunday.
The news of the replacement was confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation on their Twitter handle on Monday with Abdullahi handed a late call-up.
“Super Eagles camp update: @OfficialShehu replaces injured Frank Onyeka for the AFCON 2022 qualifier against Sierra Leone #SoarSuperEagles#Team9jaStrong,” NFF tweeted.
The 27-year-old last featured for the Eagles in their international friendly against Brazil in October 2019 but was not invited for the country’s friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia last month.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has arrived the country ahead of Nigeria’s 2021 AFCON qualifying doubleheader against Sierra Leone.
Musa, who is currently without a club after leaving Saudi Arabia side Al-Nassr is joined by Oghenekaro Etebo, Paul Onuachu, Leicester City forward, Kelechi iheanacho and Sparta Rotterdam’s Maduka Okoye as some of the early arrivals to the Super Eagles camp.
Nigeria takes on fellow West Africans Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on 17 October before travelling to Freetown for the return encounter four days later.
The Super Eagles have a hundred per cent record and lead Group L with six points after beating Benin Republic and Lesotho in their opening two matches.
Victory in both matches against the Leone Stars will all but confirm their place in Cameroon for next year’s continental showpiece.
Both games are set to be played behind closed doors after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled out allowing fans inside stadiums for this round of continental qualifiers due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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