Work Permit Stops Captain, But Super Eagles Battle Ready For Ukraine

By Akinwale Kasali

The Super Eagles camp in Dnipro, Ukraine, is set to trade tackles with the Yellow-Blue team of Ukraine in an international friendly on 10th August, 2019.

Surprisingly, Super Eagles captain and defender, Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo have pulled out of the Friendly, including Leicester City’s Wilfried Ndidi and Monaco Football Club Striker, Henry Onyekuru due to work permit issues that has prevented him from teaming up with his colleague in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.

Inspite of the late withdrawal by some key players in the squad due to some issues, the players in camp have vowed to upset their host and record a victory in the Eastern European Country.

Coach Gernot Rohr gave a late call up to Club Brugge striker, Dennis Bonaventure, Anderson Esiti of PAOK Salonica in Greece, Brian Idowu of UFA Football Club in France and Josh Maja of Girondins Bordeaux.

These four players replaced Musa, Onyekuru, Omeruo and Ndidi respectively.

Super Eagles new sensation, Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal Football Club has vowed to prove a point in the encounter, planning to unleash is mesmerizing skills and scoring prowess against the Andrey Shevchenko side.

The list of players in Ukraine for the face off are: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Maduka Okoye and Maduka Okoye.

Others are: Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong, Brian Idowu,Zabaleta Jamilu Collins, Joe Eribo, Anderson Esiti, Oghenekaro Etebo, and Alex Iwobi.

Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Josh Maja,  Paul Onuachu, Samuel  Kalu, Dennis Bonaventure and  Moses Simon.

The The Ukraine Football Federation has named Paolo Valerie, as the centre referee for Nigeria’s international friendly against Ukraine on Tuesday at the Dnipro Arene.

Valerie became an international referee in January 1, 2011.

Valerie, 41-year-old Italian has issued 145 cards in his career so far.

He will be assisted by compatriots, Alessandro Costanzo and Stefano Alassio.

A statement from Ukraine Football Federation’s official website read: “The main arbiter will be Paolo Valerie. Alessandro Costanzo and Stefano Alassio will help him along the lines. The role of the fourth arbitrator will be performed by Ukrainian Vitaliy Romanov

The kick off time is 7:30pm Nigerian time.