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Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has taken positives from the absence of his key players as preparations for the double-header friendly against Cameroon received huge boost following the arrival of team captain Ahmed Musa in camp.
The clash against the former African champions was on the verge of being cancelled owing to the withdrawal of several players.
Rohr had confirmed last week that Napoli star Victor Osimhen, Crotone’s Simeon Nwankwo, Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi, West Bromwich Albion’s Semi Ajayi, Fulham’s Ola Aina, Benfica’s Tyronne Ebuehi and Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma will not be joining the squad anymore.
With the presence of captain Musa, coach Gernot Rohr now boasts of 19 players in his squad for the showdown against Toni Conceicao’s men.
Musa teamed up with Moses Simon, Francis Uzoho, John Noble, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Shehu Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidozie Awaziem, Jamilu Collins, Peter Etebo, Valentine Ozornwafor, Abraham Marcus, Anayo Iwuala, Terem Moffi, Peter Olayinka and Samson Tijani.
Speaking to the NFF media, Rohr stated that the game against the five-time African champions would help his team prepare well for September’s World Cup qualification games.
“It was okay, we had 18 players [on Tuesday afternoon]. Some of them travelled in at night, so we were very careful as we don’t want to have any injuries,” the German tactician said.
“We will be 20 [on Wednesday morning] because two other players will arrive and we will try to have a good team. Although Cameroon have 26 players.
“The training session was okay; the condition was good. The grass was good, and the weather was not too hot. I think we can prepare well here in Austria.
“You see that so many players are not here for this test match. It’s an opportunity to try other players, to see new faces and then have the chance to something.
“It is also important to prepare well for the World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde. So, we must use this opportunity to be ready and have a good competition in the team.”
Nigeria and Cameroon have an age-long rivalry when it comes to football on the continental stage.
The last time the two countries met was in the Round of 16 of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Nigeria won the game 3-2 thanks to a brace from Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi’s match-winning effort.
