Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, and Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, have left the Super Eagles training camp ahead of Monday’s international friendly between Nigeria and Mozambique.
Nigeria will play their second friendly in October when they square off against Mozambique at Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, Portugal. Kickoff time is 4pm (local time).
Osimhen and Iheanacho flew out of Portugal to their respective bases on Saturday.
Osimhen suffered a hamstring injury during the second half of Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia on Friday evening, and was replaced by Terem Moffi in the second half of the match.
Jose Peseiro stated during his post-match press briefing that Osimhen was due to undergo an MRI examination on Saturday to determine the extent of his injury.
Iheanacho, conceivably the exceptional player for the Super Eagles against the Saudis, who scored Nigeria’s second goal on Friday, was excused from camp to attend to a family emergency.
Super Eagles head coach Peseiro now has available only three players classed as centre-forwards, namely Terem Moffi, Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar.
Enyimba goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo, arrived Portugal on Friday night, and trained with the Super Eagles squad on Saturday in preparation of being selected in Mozambique’s friendly match.
Soccernet.ng reports that in Mozambique, Nigeria will face a tricky opponent who is in the middle of a positive patch of form.
The Mambas have avoided defeat in six of their last seven matches, including wins over Rwanda, Mauritius, and the Benin Republic.
Also on Friday, Mozambique were forced to a 1-1 draw by Angola, and the East African nation will want to go one step better when they lock horns with Nigeria on Monday.
Nigeria and Mozambique have qualified for the 2023 Africa Nations Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, and both teams will look to test the level of their preparations for the tournament.
Mozambique and Nigeria are meeting for the first time since January 2014, when the Super Eagles CHAN team recorded a 4-2 victory in the Africa Nations Championship.
Aside from that, the Super Eagles have met the Mambas four times, winning three and drawing one, with five goals scored and none conceded across all competitions.
The last friendly match between the two countries came in August 1999, when Gabriel Okolosi’s goal gave Nigeria a 0-1 win in Maputo.
Jose Peseiro is also expected to rejig his starting lineup following the less-than-impressive performances of some players.
Hapoel Jerusalem star Adebayo Adeleye could come in for goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, who was at fault for the first goal Nigeria conceded against the Saudi Arabians.
Nantes star Moses Simon impressed after coming on as a substitute three days ago, and he could be preferred to Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman.
Fernabahce fully-back Bright Osayi-Samuel could replace Tyronne Ebuehi in the starting lineup, while OGC Nice ace Terem Moffi could partner Victor Boniface in the attack.
Coach Peseiro can unleash Real Sociedad forward Umar Sadiq from the bench.
Nigeria’s possible starting lineup: Adeleye; Onyemaechi, Bassey, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel; Chukwueze, Ndidi, Iwobi, Simon; Boniface, Moffi.
Mozambique’s possible starting lineup:
Fasistencio; Langa, Nene, Dove, Domingos; Guima, Amadu; Witi; Catamo, Gilfo, Ratifo.
Next, Nigeria will return to competitive action on November 13 when they take on Lesotho in their Group C opener of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, one week before taking on Zimbabwe in the second group outing.
In Group G, Mozambique will square off against Botswana and Angola.
