Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo is an injury doubt for the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff against Ghana next week, Completesports.com reports.
Omeruo, 28, has missed Leganes last four league games due to groin injury.
The centre-back’s last appearance for the Cucumber Growers was against Real Zaragoza on March 11.
The former Standard Liege defender is also expected to miss Leganes home clash against Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
“Omeruo’s case, Nigeria has already called him up but his groin problems could keep him out of the national team. In this scenario, he could also be absent against Las Palmas precisely because of these physical problems,”reads a report in as.com.
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His absence will be a huge blow for the Super Eagles who are hoping to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
Vice-captain William Troost-Ekong has struggled for game time at Premier League club Watford.
Troost-Ekong is yet to make an appearance for the Hornets since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Another experienced centre-back Leon Balogon recently returned from injury.
Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen is expected to name a replacement for the experienced Omeruo in the coming days.
The Black Stars will host Nigeria on March 25 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi, while the second leg will take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja four days later.
By Adeboye Amosu
9 Comments
I doubt if Kenneth will be fit even if he recovers from the injury.. No Kenneth, ekong without match fitness.. We have just balogun, ajayi,who are playing regularly.. Awaziem should replace Kenneth immediately but I prefer awaziem at the right back because aino has not played football since after the afcon.. I’m glad we have basset and ndidi who can fit in at defense
And go many match has awaziem played?
He played the last two games for his club.. He is back to their starting 11 .. Unlike aina and ekong
Good news
IAM TIRED WITH ALL THIS LOCAL COACHES. THEY ARE ALL SENTIMENTAL IN SELECTION OF PLAYERS. EQUAVOEN KNOWS THAT THIS OMERUO HAS BEEN OUT FOR ACTION FOR SOME WEEKS AGO DUE TO INJURY. WHY INVITED HIM AT FIRST PLACES. WHY NIGERIA COACHES ALWAYS LIKE TO BE INVITING UNFIT PLAYERS IN MOST TIMES, HOPING THAT THEY WILL GET FIT BEFORE MATCH PROPER. THE SAME EQUAVOEN LISTED INJURED AWAZIEM TO HIS AFCON FINAL LIST WHEN HE KNOWS THAT AWAZIEM IS NOT EVEN 10% FIT FOR AFCON, HOPING THAT AWAZIEM WILL BE FIT AS TOURNAMENT PROCEED. WHICH KIND OF BAD MENTALITY ALL THIS LOCAL COACHES POSSESED.
*** INFACT IF GOD KNOW THAT THIS IS HOW OUR LOCAL COACHES WILL BE DOING SENTIMENTAL IN THEIR SELECTIONS, I PRAY TO GOD THAT NIGERIA WILL NOT BE QUALIFY FOR MAJOR COMPETITIONS.(AMEN).
BECAUSE WE ARE TIRED OF ALL SILLY EXCUSES. MOST TIMES NOBODY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT GERNOT ROHR SELECTIONS.
** In MALI 2002, NIGERIANS COMPLAINED WHY AMODU DROPPED ORUMA(best Nigeria player at the moment), BEFORE HE NOW SUCCUMBED TO PRESSURED.
** IN 2014 WORLD CUP, NIGERIA ALSO COMPLAINED WHY KESHI DIDN’T INCLUDE I.K UCHE( the best Nigeria player at that moment) INTO WORLD CUP SQUAD BECAUSE OF KESHI’S HATRED AND SENTIMENT. INSTEAD KESHI NOW PREFER TO GO ALONG WITH GABRIEL REUBEN (the worst Nigeria player in Kilmarnock at that moment).
, INFACT, WE ARE TIRED OF ALL THIS.
*** NIGERIA COACHES ARE SENTIMENTAL AND BRIBE-TAKERS***
Awaziem is the best replacement for an injured Omeruo. He should be brought in from the stand-by list by Coaches Eguavoen and Amunike. Awaziem is back to fitness and has played the last two or three matches for his club.
If NFF get sense. They should invite fit players. That’s how Rohr do, he invite you according to your form. Local coaches will invite players they called my boy or my town man. Without white man. Nigeria national team can’t grow and this current NFF officials should be sack and replace them with ex internationals. Nff are playing politicians with Nigeria national team.
lol. Nigeria!
With a clueless coach , a growing list of injury (Omeruo and now Ndidi) and inactive players( Ekong , Etebo eta al) something tells me Ghana will qualify