Headache For Rohr As The Only Left-Footed Defender Named In Eagles Squad Suffers Injury Pre-RSA

Published: November 03, 2018

The Super Eagles are faced with a potential left back crisis ahead of their meeting with South Africa in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier scheduled to be staged in Johannesburg in two weeks time.

Paderborn 07 defender Jamilu Collins, who is Gernot Rohr's preferred choice at left back these days, had to be substituted in his team's 2-0 loss to MSV Duisburg at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The 24-year-old had to receive treatment in the 75th minute after he was badly tackled and returned to the pitch but could not shake off the injury and was replaced with 11 minutes left on the clock.

Nigeria manager Rohr will definitely be concerned about the situation of Collins as he is the only left-footed defender named in the 23-man squad for the upcoming games.

Should Collins fail to recover in time, the German has two options; to deploy Ola Aina as a left back for the AFCONQ vs South Africa or Lokomotiv Moscow's Brian Idowu returns to the starting line-up after he was overlooked for the games against Libya.

Jamilu Collins has started all the fourteen matches contested by Paderborn 07 this term.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel