Super Eagles sensational striker, Emmanuel Emenike, shockingly would miss the August 14 Mandela Cup Challenge against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
The 26-year-old opted out of the game billed as the Nelson Mandela Challenge following his recent move to Turkish Super Lig club, Fenerbahce.
Secretary of the team, Enebi Achor explained that Emenike asked to be excused as he would need time to settle at his new club.
“He may have been at the club before but he is highly valued in Turkey and he has requested that he be allowed to settle well at the club and the technical crew has obliged him,” Achor said.
Another player who will miss the game is defender Kenneth Omeruo, who has yet to recover from a shoulder injury he sustained at the Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Meanwhile, head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi has wasted no time in naming replacements for the duo.
Gege Soriola (Free State Stars) and James Okwuosa (Chippa United) are the lucky duo called up.
Explaining the rationale behind his decision, Keshi said it was imperative to “start grooming defenders” for the squad.
“We also need to start grooming new defenders who are promising for upcoming challenges and we found the two players invited thus far very promising,” Keshi said.
Keshi then reassured fans of the African champions that Emenike is on line for a return to the team for the 2014 Fifa world cup qualifier against Malawi in September.
“We will need him in the World Cup qualifiers but he has a lot of things to do at his new club and we must give him that opportunity. But I must say we are in good contact and we are happy with the way things are going with our top players in the transfer market,” he noted.
The Super Eagles are expected to fly out on Sunday night to South Africa for the encounter against Bafana Bafana on Wednesday.
