Fenerbahce defender Osayi-Samuel suffering from flu ahead of Super Eagles clash against Saudi Arabia 

Fenerbahce maintained their one hundred percent start to the 2023-2024 season following a 2-0 win against Kasimpasa in a Turkish Super Lig match on Sunday, but the Yellow Canaries won their sixteenth game on the bounce without Bright Osayi-Samuel.

İsmail Kartal, coach of Fenerbahce, revealed before the start of the game that Osayi-Samuel was dropped from the squad because he is suffering from flu.

The Super Eagles star is being assessed by the Fenerbahce medical team and it remains to be seen whether he will be permitted to link up with his international teammates in Portugal on Tuesday.

Osayi-Samuel was tipped to start against Saudi Arabia on Friday after his rival for a right-back role Ola Aina withdrew from the Super Eagles squad after failing to recover from a muscle-related injury. 

Nigeria have been hit with fitness issues in defence ahead of the back-to-back matches with Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. 

Jordan Torunarigha and Semi Ajayi recently recovered from injuries, while Fulham star Calvin Bassey has logged just 20 minutes in the last five matches in the Premier League.

Osayi-Samuel wasn't called up for the dead rubber AFCON qualifier against São Tomé and Príncipe because he was managing a groin injury. 

In the sixteen gamed contested  by Fenerbahce this season, the Blackpool academy product has played in twelve. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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