Finidi sweating on fitness of Fenerbahce RB Osayi-Samuel ahead of Super Eagles squad announcement

Nigeria coach Finidi George is sweating on the fitness of Fenerbahce fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel ahead of the Super Eagles' 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa's Bafana Bafana and Benin's Cheetahs in June, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Finidi, through his employers Nigeria Football Federation, must notify the European-based players called up for the June internationals at least fifteen days before the game against South Africa, and if this deadline is not complied with, the clubs are not obliged to release the players to the NFF. 

Osayi-Samuel is now rated as doubtful to take part in both World Cup qualifiers after suffering an injury during Fenerbahce's goalless draw at Konyaspor on Monday, May 6th.

The Nigeria international has undergone an MRI scan to determine the extent of the injury he suffered against Konyaspor, and the test results confirmed that bleeding was detected in his right ankle. 

Osayi-Samuel has started his rehabilitation and it remains to be seen if he'll be fit for Fenerbahce's final three matches of the 2023-2024 season against Kayserispor, Galatasaray, and Istanbulspor.

The former Queens Park Rangers winger has joined Zaidu Sanusi, Tyronne Ebuehi, William Troost-Ekong and Moses Simon on the Super Eagles injury list ahead of Finidi's first squad announcement as substantive coach of the national team.

The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner could be facing a crisis in defence as there are also concerns about the fitness of Jamilu Collins after the left-back sat out the last three games played by Cardiff City in the Championship

Nigeria will take on South Africa at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on June 7, before facing Gernot Rohr's Benin at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on matchday four.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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