AFCON roster changes : Eguavoen says Onyekuru, Ebuehi happy to replace Osimhen, Shehu

Super Eagles caretaker boss Augustine Eguavoen has revealed that Benfica-owned fullback Tyronne Ebuehi and Olympiakos winger Henry Onyekuru were delighted to replace Abdullahi Shehu and Victor Osimhen respectively in Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations squad at short notice.

A club versus country row between Napoli and the Nigeria Football Federation ended midweek after Osimhen tested positive for coronavirus, effectively ruling him out of the tournament in Cameroon.

Versatile right-back Abdullahi Shehu was visibly upset when he went off injured in the first half of the derby between Omonia Nicosia and APOEL on Boxing Day.

The injury suffered by Shehu was bad enough to prevent him from participating in the Africa Cup of Nations as he faces at least ten days on the sidelines.

Speaking to NFF TV, Eguavoen said : "I like the enthusiasm. I only informed Onyekuru once and he was happy about it.

"Initially he's been an integral part of this team and I felt bad that some of them won't be around but a decision has to be made - Onuachu, Onyekuru, Tyronne Ebuehi, few other ones I felt bad.

"But as soon as that opening was there, Shehu Abdullahi, reports said he was injured, he was going to be out for 10 days to three weeks and we reached out to Tyronne, he was happy".

Fans' favourite Ebuehi represented the Super Eagles at the 2018 World Cup while Onyekuru was a member of the squad to the last Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel