Nigeria vs Sierra Leone: Shehu replaces Onyeka as Musa, Etebo, Iheanacho arrive

INJURED FC Midtjylland midfielder Frank Onyeka has withdrawn from the Super Eagles squad for the double-header against Sierra Leone and he has been replaced by Shehu Abdullahi. 

Nigeria and Sierra Leone clash in Benin City on Friday and in Freetown on Tuesday next week for a place in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Although Onyeka played all 90 minutes of his club’s 4-0 Danish league win over FC Copenhagen on Sunday, he apparently got injured afterwards and could not make the trip to Nigeria.

The Super Eagles confirmed the changes on their Twitter account on Monday.Onyeka’s replacement Shehu has played 27 times for the Super Eagles, although the Omonia Nikosia midfielder’s last appearance was as a last-minute substitute in the friendly with Brazil in October 2019.

Meanwhile, five players have arrived in Nigeria for the matches.

Captain Ahmed Musa, who recently cancelled his contract with Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr, Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho and Belgium-based striker Paul Onuachu are among the early arrivals.

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Galatasaray midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo, who missed friendly matches in Austria in October, have also landed in Nigeria for the qualifiers.