The Super Eagles have been hit by the withdrawals of key players ahead of the international friendlies against Poland and Portugal, but Team Manager Eric Chelle remains upbeat that Nigeria will hold its own against the Europeans.
Inter Milan's Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and new talent Femi Azeez are among those forced to skip the games due to club pressures or other issues. Akinsanmiro was added to the squad following the withdrawals of Samson Tijani and Alhassan Yusuf due to visa issues, but the youngster has been forced out by illness.
Last week, English Championship club Millwall pulled Femi Azeez from the games due to club engagements. Conspicuous by their absence are two of the most important players: Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Osimhen withdrew amid growing speculation over his future at Galatasaray, while Lookman pulled out for personal reasons.
Speaking after Nigeria's 3-0 defeat of Jamaica in the Unity Cup final on Saturday, Chelle said: "For now, we have two games, Poland and Portugal, and I have a lot of problems because some players don't have decent form. Concerning Victor Osimhen, he is an important player for Nigeria and Galatasaray. This period is off-season, when a lot of things happen off the pitch, and we must respect certain decisions that are not in our hands. Ademola Lookman won't be available for personal reasons; Femi Azeez had a decent outing at the Unity Cup, but his club will not release him for the remaining matches. Alhassan Yusuf and Tijani Samson do not have entry visas, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro is not feeling well. The upcoming matches are friendlies, and I will approach every game with seriousness with the players available."
Unperturbed by the absences, Chelle added: "We will definitely make a fight, if we win we win, if we lose we lose. But if we lose, they have to work on us; they have to beat us. Poland is a good team, and Portugal is maybe the best team in the world. This is a great challenge for us, and for sure I want to go to their own country to beat them."
