Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr will not be able to call upon injured trio Abdullahi Shehu, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and Odion Ighalo when his side lock horns with South Africa on Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

In addition to the three players on the sidelines, captain Obi Mikel has asked to be left out of the squad until further notice and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi picked up a silly booking in the closing minutes against Libya in Sfax, which triggered an automatic one-match ban.

Rohr admitted that the nonavailability of these important players, especially Uzoho and leading scorer in AFCONQ Ighalo, is a big blow to the team.

''It is difficult without three injured players and one suspended one. We are missing Shehu, our right back, Ndidi who is suspended. Our goalkeeper and our goalscorer is injured so it is a lot,'' Rohr told allnigeriasoccer.com.

''We will try with some new players to be able to go to South Africa and have revenge. It is a long time ago, it is one year and a half, that was the first game in Uyo. We don't forget it but it is a different team now.

''We had the experience of the World Cup and I think my young team is able to do well even if we are missing four important players especially the goalkeeper (Uzoho) and the goalscorer (Ighalo).

''I think the training session was good, we are preparing very well for this match.''

Gernot Rohr will attempt to win four straight matches for the first time since his appointment as Nigeria coach when they do battle with South Africa.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel