Eguavoen left sweating over the fitness of Fenerbahce RB again before Nigeria squad announcement

Nigeria's interim manager Augustine Eguavoen has been left sweating over the fitness of Fenerbahce fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel again, few days before he unveils his squad list for the national team's Africa cup of Nations qualifying matches against Libya in October. 

Eguavoen could not count on the services of Osayi-Samuel for the internationals against Benin and Rwanda in September because he was recovering from an injury. 

After spending a month on the sidelines, it seemed Osayi-Samuel's injury problems were behind him following his inclusion in the gameday squad for the Europa League meeting with Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday, September 26.

The former Queens Park Rangers man made his comeback off the bench, replacing Mert Müldür at minute 65, only to pick up the first red card of his career in the 90th minute.

Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho has omitted Osayi-Samuel from the travelling squad to Antalya for the Super Lig match against Antalyaspor tomorrow evening, surely an indication that all is not well with the Nigerian defender.

According to multiple reports in the Turkish press, including NTVSpor, Osayi-Samuel was not included in the 23-man squad because he sprained his foot in the last match against Union Saint-Gilloise.

The Fenerbahce right-back was initially named in the Super Eagles squad for the internationals in September but the Nigeria Football Federation were forced to hand a late call-up to Crawley Town's Benjamin Tanimu after the Turkish-based defender pulled out of the squad due to fitness issues. 

Osayi-Samuel has appeared in six matches for Fenerbahce this season and was in action for 371 minutes.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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