Super Eagles Exploring ‘Plan B’ After Stars’ Exclusion From Cape Verde World Cup Match

Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick has told The Punch newspaper that the body is seriously working on various possibilities to ensure that the Premier League Super Eagles players are released for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying match against Cape Verde on 7 September.

This is as a result of the English Premier League decision not to release players to travel to countries designated as ‘red zones’  for Covid-19.

There are 26 countries on the list. Even though Nigeria is not included, the Super Eagles’ opponents in the Match day 2 of the qualifiers, Cape Verde are in the red flag list.

It therefore follow that the seven Super Eagles players in the English Premiership will not be available for the 7 September match even though they can play against Liberia in Lagos.

An under-strength squad appears most likely against a potentially strong Cape Verde which caused sensation in the season 2013/2014 and ranked among African top three in FIFA rankings.

Cape Verde were almost making it to Brazil 2014, but for annulment of their crucial win against Tunisia on account of fielding ineligible player.

They were undefeated in their two Afcon qualifiers with Cameroon, whom they walloped 3-1 in Prai last March.

In Nigeria’s only match with Cape Verde on  9 January 2013, the Super Eagles only forced a draw in the duel played at Estadio do Algarve in Portugal.

If fielded, Ahmed Musa will be the only player from that 2013 match. Added to the possible list of players that may miss the match are the three Super Eagles in the Scottish League.

These are: Leon Balogun, Semi Ajayi and Joe Aribo, making a total number of 10 players that will be ruled out of the match.

Those affected in the Premiership are: Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Frank Onyeka, Oghenekaro Etebo, Emmanuel Dennis and William Troost-Ekong.

Besides having to play Cape Verde with the exclusion of those 10 players, the NFF could press for a shift of either the match to January close to the opening duel of the Africa Cup of Nations when the African players are mandatorily have to be released, or asked for a shift of venue to a neutral ground.