Nigeria Drops Pirates Skipper
Nigeria’s interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has left out Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah from the country’s 23-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya.
Eguavoen, who replaced Finidi George as Nigeria’s head coach, announced his final squad earlier this week. Ndah, the Pirates captain, was initially included in the preliminary squad but was subsequently dropped due to a knee injury suffered in a recent league match against Polokwane City.
He missed the Pirates’ win over Richards Bay this past weekend and is in a race against time to be fit on Saturday’s MTN8 final against Stellenbosch. There is a place for Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who has been outstanding in goals along with Victor Boniface, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Tosin Adarabioyo and Samuel Chukwueze.
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the 2023 AFCON tournament, will face Libya in a doubleheader this month.
The first leg is scheduled for 11 October at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo, while the return leg will take place on 15 October at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi.
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that Eguavoen, who also serves as the country’s technical director, will continue in his interim role. He previously led the Eagles to a victory over Benin and a draw against Rwanda in the AFCON qualifiers last month.
