Danger signal on Mandela Challenge match
- Super Eagles can't raise team
By Kunle Solaja
NIGERIA may pull out of the much advertised Mandela Challenge match slated for Wednesday in South Africa. A worried Taiwo Ogunjobi yesterday said the withdrawal option was being considered as Nigeria may not be able to raise a formidable team.
The Nigeria FA secretary general said that John Utaka called yesterday morning to notify him of his inability to come owing to injury.
Similarly, Yakubu Aiyegbeni who fell owing to a crude tackle by Southampton's Rory Delap in Saturday's 2-1 defeat of Portsmouth in the Premiership also yesterday informed Ogunjobi of his inability to make the Super Eagles' squad for the Mandela Cup. Also on the injury list is Bartholomew Ogbeche.
This brings to 12 the number of players who have pulled out. Earlier, the big boys " Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Joseph Yobo and Obafemi Martins had pulled out. New invitee Ayila Yussuf who had a splendid outing with Ukraine club, Dynamos Kiev in a UEFA Champions League match with the star-studded Real Madrid also informed the Nigeria FA yesterday morning that he was not committed to Wednesday's match.
Kick Off had also reported that a Ukrainian satellite television station, NTV+ Football last Saturday announced that the Nigerian midfielder turned down the chance to play for the Super Eagles on account of being close to get Ukrainian citizenship.
A worried Ogunjobi said withdrawal appears to be the best option, but the South African football authorities are insisting on the fixture because tickets have already been sold out for the match scheduled for Ellis Park.
Wilson Oruma who was included in the reversed 19-man squad is said to be insisting on either a first class air ticket or at worst, a business class ticket. Ogunjobi said that his fears are that Nigerians will not take it easy with the FA should a second-string team record a humiliating defeat.
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