Czech Republic side Slavia Prague have confirmed the invitation of 23 year old centre back Igho Ogbu to the senior national team of Nigeria for their dead rubber AFCON qualifiers game against Sao Tome and Principe, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria is already through to the tournament making the game against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo a formality, which the interim technical crew of the Nigerian team wants to use to try new players ahead of not just the AFCON but the World Cup qualifiers which begins in November.
In defence is where the team is currently looking for younger options with most of the players in that position in their 30’s or close to. That probably explains the invitation of Ogbu which was confirmed by the coach of the team, while speaking about the players at his disposal.
“Honestly, I would like at least one more player. We know what the injuries and things are like, the national team will come, for which more than 80% of the staff will go. For example, we already know that Ogbu will go,” said Jindřich Trpišovský at the press conference.
Ogbu, a former junior international for Nigeria at U17 and U20, where he played in all but one of Nigeria’s game at the 2019 U20 World Cup in Poland had his breakthrough in Europe last season, when he joined the Czech Republic side from Norwegian side Lillestrom. He made 21 appearances in all competitions last season.
A form which he carried into this season with six games already under his belt. A chance to add to that number was made impossible after his red card in the Europa League qualifiers against Ukrainian side Dnipro.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
