Musa, Chukwueze, Etabo, Umar, 5 Others Pull Out Of Mexico, Ecuador Friendly Matches
By Amaechi Agbo
No fewer than nine players including captain, Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chuwueze, Oghenekaro Etebo as well as Sadiq Umar have pulled out of Super Eagles friendly matches against Mexico and Ecuador, bestchoicesports.com.ng can report
Confirming the development on Friday, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in a press statement said other players ruled out include defenders Zaidu Sanusi and Abdulahi Shehu; goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielders, Azubike Okechukwu, Alhassan Yusuf as well as Samson Tijani.
It added that a combination of factors including visa hitches, injuries and career concerns ruled them out of the matches.
“Musa, as well as goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Zaidu Sanusi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo, Azubuike Okechukwu, Alhassan Yusuf and Samson Tijani, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar were unable to make it to the United States as a combination of factors including visa hitches, injuries and career concerns took their toll, ” the federation said.
However, deputy captain William Ekong and forwards Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi are in the famous city in the State of Texas as the Eagles are set for the clash with the Mexicans on Saturday night. Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and Innocent Bonke, and forwards Cyril Dessers and Terem Moffi are also part of the party.
Eight home –based professionals, including goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo, defender Ibrahim Buhari, midfielder Chiamaka Madu and forwards Victor Mbaoma and Ishaq Kayode Rafiu are also in the US to fight for shirts.
Uzoho and Awaziem departed from Istanbul on Thursday morning and arrived the team’s The Adolphus Hotel in the evening, taking the number of players in camp to 19. Only forward Cyriel Dessers was still being expected on Friday morning.
The Eagles will battle Mexico’s El Tri, perennial CONCACAF champions, at the AT&T Stadium situated at the AT&T Way in Arlington on Saturday, 28th May, as from 7pm Texas time (1am, Sunday 29th May in Nigeria).
