NFF confirm Aina is out of WCQ vs Cape Verde; Musa on 97 caps in the eyes of FIFA

Published: September 06, 2021

Through a press release, Nigeria Football Federation have confirmed that Chelsea academy product Ola Aina will not be available for selection when the Super Eagles face off with Cape Verde in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, September 7, just as allnigeriasoccer.com exclusively reported two days ago.

Apart from the Torino defender, seven United Kingdom-based players have returned to their respective clubs, including Glasgow Rangers duo Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun, Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, Everton winger Alex Iwobi and Watford's William Troost-Ekong and Oghenekaro Etebo.

Tyronne Ebuehi, Innocent Bonke, Chidozie Awaziem and Kenneth Omeruo are among the players in contention to make their first appearances in the World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde.

Bearing it in mind that a friendly against Togo back in June 2017 wasn't recognized by FIFA because manager Gernot Rohr utilized nine substitutes, three more than the limit permitted by the football's world governing body, former Leicester City striker Ahmed Musa could earn his 98th cap tomorrow.

In the eyes of FIFA, Musa is currently on 97 caps as the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria, in which Musa featured, wasn't recognized by the Zurich based organization because Nigeria fielded an ineligible player Abdullahi Shehu.

The match was declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Algeria, with the NFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6 000.

A win against the Blue Sharks will brighten the path of the three –time African champions to the knockout final round, given that home-and-away fixture against the Central African Republic is what is on the plate in October.

21 Super Eagles in Cape Verde

Goalkeepers (3): Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders (7): Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Valentine Ozornwafor (Sporting Charleroi, Belgium); Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy)

Midfielders (4): Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Innocent Bonke (Malmo FF, Sweden); Kingsley Michael (Bologna FC, Italy); Adekunele Adeleke (Abia Warriors)

Forwards (7): Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Kalu (FC Bordeaux, France); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, Greece)

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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