Rohr sends Uzoho and Awaziem along with Osimhen and Ozornwafor to U23 camp ahead of Libya match

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has sent four of the players who featured in yesterday's 3-1 victory over Seychelles to the U23 camp so they can feature in the team's qualifier against Libya on Monday.

Yesterday, Nigeria beat the Pirates of Seychelles 3-1 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba in the Super Eagles' final 2019 African nation Cup qualifier. Among the players in camp for the match were goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, Valentine Ozornwafor, Victor Osimhen and Chidozie Awaziem.

All three players are under 23, however, so Coach Rohr has sent them to the U23 camp as Nigeria has a tough competitive game against Libya on Monday and their services will be needed. In the first leg of the qualifier away to Libya, Nigeria lost 0-2, so the home game in Asaba has now become key and as such as strong as possible a squad is required.

Uzoho, whose error led to the only goal scored by Seychelles yesterday, is expected to start for the U23 team against Libya, particularly as the first choice goalkeeper Abubakar Adamu is suspended after receiving a red card in the first leg. On Tuesday, Nigeria will play a friendly game against Egypt again in Asaba and it is not clear if the players will make it back to the Super Eagles squad in time for that match.

Nigeria won the last edition of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations held only for the second time in Senegal four years ago following a 2-1 win over Algeria at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar. Africa’s flag-bearers in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament of Tokyo 2020 will emerge during the U-23 African Cup of Nations due to hold in Egypt in November this year.