The new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Finidi George has tweaked his team’s style of play and approach to make up for the absence of key players ahead of the games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Finidi is without the services of four senior defenders in William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Zaidu Sanusi and Ola Aina. In attack the team will have to play without their talisman and top striker Victor Osimhen in both games.

Per what we exclusively gathered the coach will alternate his team in defence to play in the same 3-5-2 formation with the trio of Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Tanimu favourite to start as the three center backs.

Chidozie Awaziem is in contention to start but for now he is seen as more suited helping from the bench in the event of any difficulty.

The midfield is where the coach took a major decision with the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi playing behind Victor Boniface who will operate in the role behind the main striker which for now is likely to be Kelechi Iheanacho.

Iheanacho’s club form not withstanding he has found favour in the eyes of the coach who sees him as a better finisher than the strikers available at the moment. Bright Osayi-Samuel and Sodiq Ismael will operate as the wingback.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Two senior players of the senior national team of Nigeria Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi didn’t take part in the team’s training session yesterday ahead of their world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.comreports.

The duo of Ndidi and Iheanacho missed the evening session as they were part of the team that played the charity game for the captain of the Nigerian team William Troost-Ekong.

They were part of the first day training, but yesterday they were both not in attendance due to their involvement in the Charity game. A total of 14 players trained yesterday.

Head coach of the Nigerian team Finidi George is still waiting for at least eight players including Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, who is presently on vacation following the conclusion of the English Premier League.

Ademola Lookman who was on parade for Atalanta yesterday in their 2-3 loss to Fiorentina in the Serie A, where he bagged a goal and an assist is expected to team up with the team at the earliest on Wednesday, and not today as earlier expected.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

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The duo of Ibrahim Olawoyin of Turkish side Rizespor and Suleman Sani of Nigeria Professional Football League side Akwa United have been handed late call up to the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Head coach of the Nigerian team Finidi George has seen injury wreck his selected squad for the games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively. Already top striker Victor Osimhen is ruled out of both games.

Finidi has also faced the disappointment of Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella opting out of the team on account of family reasons, and in his place Rizespor star Ibrahim Olawoyin has been called up.

Samuel Chukwueze is a huge doubt for both games and it has led to the decision to hand a call up to enterprising Sani who has caught the eyes this season for Akwa United.

They are expected to be in the camp of the team by Sunday in Uyo for the start of preparation for both games, which are crucial to the chances of the team making it to the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The squad of the senior national team of Nigeria for the world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic has been hit by another crisis, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Already the team’s top striker Victor Osimhen has pulled out of the squad with an injury that will sideline him for four weeks. The duo of Samuel Chukwueze and Frank Onyeka are doubts as well in the build up to the game.

However the latest surprise is Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella who has informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the technical crew of the team that he won’t be available for both games.

The 24 year old cited family reasons as the reason behind his decision to excuse himself from both games, despite commiting himself to the games just three days ago by seeking to know the camp site for the team.

Meanwhile the coaches have drafted in Caykur Rizespor star Ibrahim Olawoyin as a replacement for Tella ahead of both games.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria will likely make more adjustments to the Super Eagles squad for the world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Already the coach has replaced star striker Victor Osimhen with Enugu Rangers left back Kenneth Igboke, but that is likely going to be one of the three changes in the squad, per what we exclusively gathered.

Finidi is sweating on the fitness of AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze who has been out injured for three weeks, but gave the coach his word that he will be fit for the games. It looks unlikely though as he isn’t back in training with less than ten days to the game.

The situation is the same for Brentford’s midfielder Frank Onyeka who also gave his words to the coaches that he will be fit for both games, but might miss them or play in one based on how he recovers before the first game on the 7th of June.

Both players will be replaced in the team by players from teams in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) if by Saturday the coaches don’t get a confirmation on their availability for the games.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The news that the first choice striker of the senior national team of Nigeria Victor Osimhen won’t be available for the upcoming world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively, has caused concerns for fans and followers of the team, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen will be out for four weeks according to a release by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on their official social media handles, as he hasn’t recovered fully from the muscular knock that saw him missed a few games for Napoli towards the end of the season.

In his absence the trio of Paul Onuachu, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi are the favorite to play in his top striker position, but Ademola Lookman says that spot around the box is where he feels more comfortable.

Lookman rifle home a hattrick to power Atalanta to a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final, and he is now aiming for a similar feat with Nigeria in the world cup qualifiers, but wants a role that isn’t on the wings where he has been deployed for the most of his career with the senior national team of Nigeria.

“I wouldn’t really call myself a winger,” Lookman says.

“I think a winger is someone who stays out wide, waits for the ball, and looks to take his man on — which I can do. But I think my game is broader: I can play inside, I can play wide, I can score goals. I can be a threat in a box, I can head the ball, I can pass and create. So, for me, I think that inside wide left area is where I can best play my game.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will prosecute their upcoming 2026 world cup qualifiers games against South Africa and Benin Republic respectively without the services of the African Player Of The Year Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen has been an injury doubt in the build up to the game despite making his return for Napoli after two weeks out with a muscular injury in their last game of the season against Lecce.

Many expected him to be available after his role as a substitute last weekend, but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in an announcement on their official social media handles said he won’t be available for both games, and he has been subsequently replaced in the team.

His spot has been given to young enterprising Enugu Rangers left back Kenneth Igboke. The idea is to address the fact that no natural left back was named in the 25 man list for the game which had six defenders.

Below is the amended list of players expected to hit the camp of the team on Sunday in Uyo.

EAGLES FOR BAFANA, CHEETAHS BATTLES

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Sadiq Ismael (Remo Stars FC); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Benjamin Tanimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania), Kenneth Igboke (Enugu Rangers).

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)

Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany);  Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France)

The head coach of the senior national team of Benin Republic Gernot Rohr has made public the list of players who will prosecute their upcoming 2026 world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Nigeria respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

They will square up against the group leaders Rwanda on the 6th of June at their adopted home ground in Cote d’Ivoire, before welcoming the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the same venue on the 10th of June.

In the squad made public by the German coach, who holds the record of the longest serving foreign coach in the history of the senior national team of Nigeria included three players of Nigerian descent and his assistant Tunde Adelakun is also a Nigerian.

Adelakun was key in the coach getting the Nigerian job and they have maintained their relationship since then. He has now graduated him to the role of his assistants unlike his role which wasn’t defined while was in charge of Nigeria.

Samson Olarewaju Akinyoola of Egyptian giants Zamalek led the way for the Nigerian amomg the playing staff after announcing himself with a brace in his debut game for the team. The 24 year old who is a graduate of the famous 36 Lions Academy of Lagos was born to a Nigerian father and grew up in Lagos. He qualifies for Benin Republic through his ancestral roots.

Junior Olaitan Ishola of second division French side Troyes will also play a key role in the game against Nigeria as he will be tasked with stopping the Nigerians from dominating the midfield. The 22 year old was born to a Nigerian father and a Beninese mother.

Power playing forward Tosin Aiyegun of relegated French Ligue 1 side Lorient is one player whom Rohr noticed during his days as coach of Nigeria, while he was playing for Latvian side Ventspils.

Now established as a top professional in mainstream Europe, the once upon a time Super Eagles hopeful will no doubt lead the assault against the Super Eagles on the 10th.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman