The recent news ruling Semi Ajayi out of Super Eagles world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively has opened the door for a replacement in the team’s squad for both games, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Ajayi suffered a relapse of the hamstring injury that has kept him out since November during West Bromwich Albion’s game against Oxford United. He is now expected to be out until at least April, effectively ruling him out of the games of the senior national team of Nigeria.
A replacement for the 31 year old is said to have been picked by head coach Eric Chelle, but the identity still remains a mystery with two different sources contradicting themselves on if the player in question is Leon Balogun.
Balogun hasn’t played for Nigeria for almost two years, and he is tipped to be handed a route back to the team by Chelle owing to his fine form for Scottish side Rangers. He only recently returned to training after missing the last seven games of the team in all competitions, due to a knock picked up in the Europa League game against Manchester United on the 23rd of January.
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” I know Balogun was in the provisional list but I am not certain if he is in the final list of players. Last time I checked he hasn’t played for over a month and won’t likely be fit enough for a spot in the team, when the list is out”, a team source revealed when asked about the 36 year old.
His thought was however dismissed by another source who said the former Brighton and Hove Albion defender wasn’t named in the final 23 man list for the games.
” He (Balogun) wasn’t contacted by Chelle. That is a sign that he isn’t in the final list of players for the games. Maybe the injuries have will force him into a rethink but I am sure he didn’t make the initial 23. He is 36 and not sure if he can handle two games within a space of three days”, he concluded.
Ade Emmanuel
