Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr did not pick the country’s leading scorer at the Rio Olympics Oghenekaro Etebo for next month’s AFCON qualifier against Tanzania because the Portugal-based forward is injured.
Etebo, who fired four goals past Japan in Nigeria’s opening game of the Rio Olympics, suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s final group game against Colombia and has therefore missed the subsequent knockout games against Denmark and Germany.
Officials said Etebo will undergo a late fitness test ahead of tonight’s third-place match against Honduras in Belo Horizonte.
A top official disclosed: “Rohr has said Etebo was not part of his first call-ups because he is injured. He needs all his players to be fit.
“He’s a German and he will not take any chances on any of his players.
“It’s the same reason, Alex Iwobi of Arsenal was not considered. He is nursing a thigh injury which he will not recover from till after the Tanzania match.”
Both players will therefore be high on the call-up list once they are fit.
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