Algeria’s preparation for their World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Nigeria has suffered a heavy setback after one of the players coach George Leekens is hoping to use against Nigeria suffered a groin injury.

Leekens released his list of foreign call up for the game against Nigeria, and Leicester City record signing Islam Slimani who was included in the list could miss the tie with a groin injury.

Slimani has been ruled out of Leicester City UEFA Champions League game against FC Copenhagen in Denmark, but reports has it that he could be fit for their weekend English Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

The groin injury will reportedly take a week to heal but it could extend to three weeks, if he suffers a setback or aggravate the injury on his return.

Regarded as one of the livewire of the Algerian attack, his availability for the tie against Nigeria on the 12th of November in Uyo, will be much clearer after the weekend game in the English Premier League.

The Belgian coach of the national team of Cameroon Hugo Broos has given the coach of Nigeria Gernot Rohr tips on how to exploit, the weaknesses he noticed in the team of Algeria, when both team met in Algiers.

Algeria forced Cameroon into a 1-1 draw at home in their first World Cup 2018 qualifiers, a result which Broos felt could have been better for his side, if they exploited the weakness he noticed in the defence of Algeria.

The Belgian coach lamented his team inability to convert the numerous chances they had in the game as the Algerians are naive defensively, with the lack of pace of centre defenders Liasinne Camaduro and Carl Medjani also mentioned by the manager.

His strikers failed to thread ball behind, to exploit the lack of pace of Algeria’s central defence duo, something the manager of Nigeria Gernot Rohr should exploit when both team clash on the 12th of November in Uyo.

He also pointed out that the Algerians are not coordinated in attack, with the likes of Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez getting in the way of each other during the game.

Newly appointed coach of Algeria national team George Leekens says his team will have lot of work to do, if they want to get a good result against Nigeria in Uyo.

Algeria will play group B leaders Nigeria on the 12th of November in Uyo, a tie which could decide the leadership of the group before the next round of qualifiers, with group leaders Nigeria needing nothing but a win to be guaranteed top spot.

In his first press conference as coach of Algeria, Leekens spoke extensively on how his planned approach for the game, particularly on his team defensive issues which cost them all three points against Cameroun in their first game.

The manager who highlighted the need to stop the world class trio of Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi didn’t cover himself with much glory as Algerian fans and journalist felt angered by his praises.

” We have to admit that the defence is one of our problems. But if I don’t know Algeria, the players,people,culture, I won’t be able to do this in ten days” He said.

” Everyone has to defend. Everyone must run 10m. Playing without the ball is important, Have you seen Nigeria attack? Sometimes they can be world class”.

” They have Musa, Iwobi and Iheanacho. World class players. You need special drills to stop them and that we plan to do when we meet next month”.

Fears concerning the availability of Nigeria number one shot stopper Carl Ikeme ahead of Nigeria crucial World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria has been dispelled by the coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers Rob Edwards.

The 29 year old shot stopper has established himself as Nigeria’s first choice goalkepper since Vincent Enyeama quit the team, after a disagreement with former coach Sunday Oliseh.

Interim Coach of Wolves Edwards while confirming that Ikeme won’t be between the sticks for Wolves in the Derby game against Derby County, however revealed that his injury will only require few days before he is passed fit.

“We’re going to try and reduce the inflammation. He’s touch and go and we’ll know more in a few days”. He said.

Ikeme was withdrawn at half time with a sore hip and has strained his oblique muscle.The Nigeria international was replaced by Andy Lonergan during the 1-1 draw with Blackburn

The fine performance of Nigerian midfielder cum defender Uche Agbo in Granada’s 0-1 loss against Barcelona has earned him praises from his coach Lucas Alcaraz.

Agbo is among the players invited by coach of Nigeria Gernot Rohr for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria in Uyo on the 12th of November. A tie Nigeria is looking for victory to consolidate their lead in group B.

The former Nigeria youth international is on loan to Granada from English Premier League side Watford, and despite playing as a defensive midfielder for the majority of his career. He was converted to central defense by former Granada’s coach Paco Jemez at the start of the season.

” He is not a defensive midfielder, although it is his position, he likes to be on the ball and dictate the pace. He leaves me very happy when he plays in central defens” Alcaraz said.

” Uche is a centre back who loves to play from the back and make use of the space in front of him, with the ball at his feet, he always make the right decision.

The coach of the Nigeria senior national team Gernot Rohr is still waiting for the manager of Chelsea Antonio Conte, to respond to his plea of giving John Mikel Obi games with the U23 side of Chelsea.

To keep Mikel match fit for Nigeria’s crucial World Cup qualifiers tie against Algeria, Rohr made a passionate plea to the Chelsea coach to give his captain games with the U23s.

The Nigeria coach wants the Chelsea manager to ask the coach of the U23s who are in the Premier League 2 to play the Nigerian, after his revelation that the 29 year old is not in his first team plans.

Rohr made the plea to the Chelsea manager during a meeting with technical director Mike Emenalo last week during his visit to Stamford Bridge.

However, Conte is yet to get back to Rohr on his plea but when Chelsea U23 took on their Everton counterpart yesterday, Mikel was not given a run out. A sign which could mean Conte has turned down Rohr’s request.

Mikel will most certainly leave Chelsea either in January or next summer but with the U23s not in action again until after Nigeria’s next game against Algeria, he could once again lead the Super Eagles despite not playing a single game since the start of the season.

The controversy surrounding Tyronne Ebuehi’s withdrawal from the Nigeria squad for the World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Algeria has taken a different twist.

20 year old Ebuehi, who is also eligible to play for the Netherlands was called up for the first time by Nigeria, but in a rather bizarre twist, the ADO Den Haag full back rejected the call in an interview on the website of his club.

“I see it as a great honor that I am noted in my homeland,” says Ebuehi.

“But at this moment ADO Den Haag requires my full attention. Especially now that I am settled in the team. Therefore, it doesn’t seems to me like the right time to travel to Nigeria for the match. I want to focus completely on the club . but I certainly do not rule out playing for Nigeria in the future, if the next time am called up ” He told the club official website.

After his statement, Owngoalnigeria.com contacted the president of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick, who revealed he has spoken with the father over his son’s withdrawal.

” It’s not true. His agent (Wessel Weezenberg) is behind that statement, it was done without the consent of the player. As a matter of fact his father confidently told me that he will play for Nigeria” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.

” For now, we don’t know why the agent is trying to block him from Nigeria. He earlier denied contact with Nigeria over his services. But we are speaking with his family. We have their word. He will play for Nigeria”.

The sudden withdrawal of Dutch born Nigerian Tyronne Ebuehi from the list of players invited for the all important World Cup 2018 qualifiers between Nigeria and Algeria in Uyo, has been a source of concern for most lovers of the Super Eagles.

Owngoalnigeria.com which first broke the news of the invitation of the 20 year ADO Den Haag full back to the Super Eagles of Nigeria, can reveal how his withdrawal will affect the plans of manager Gernot Rohr.

Rohr has been searching for a capable alternative to Musa Mohammed who is currently having a rough time with Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey,where he is yet to play a league game in 18 months.

Ebuehi was supposed to be the man who takes over from Musa if he impresses in training, but his withdrawal will now force the coach to either stick with Wilfred Ndidi who occupied the right back spot against Zambia in Ndola or revert Leon Balogun to the full back role, which he has played for the Super Eagles on numerous occasion.

Another possible option will be to move Kenneth Omeruo to the right full back position while William Troost Ekong rekindle his partnership with Leon Balogun in central defence, like the game against Tanzania.