Team news : Nigeria boss sweating on fitness of ex-Chelsea defender after injury in training

Allnigeriasoccer.com has been told that Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro is sweating on the fitness of key defender Ola Aina ahead of the national team's prestige international friendly against Mexico at  AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The Chelsea Academy product has been rated as doubtful after suffering an injury in the Super Eagles first training session in Texas on Thursday evening.

Aina's calf is currently bandaged and he has to play through the pain barrier if selected tonight.

It was a foregone conclusion that the Torino star would have been included in the starting lineup to face the Mexicans, assuming he was in tiptop condition.

With the exception of the dead rubber tie against Guinea Bissau at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Aina has gone the distance in all the matches played by the Super Eagles in 2022.

Plateau United ace Ibrahim Buhari and Alanyaspor's Chidozie Awaziem are capable of playing in a right-back role though it is not their preferred position.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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