Orlando Pirates star defender Olisa Ndah was set to face Cristiano Ronaldo after being called up by Nigeria for their friendly match against World Cup-bound Portugal but had to be withdrawn due injury.
Ndah has been in fine form for Pirates, playing every minute as the Soweto giants went on to win the MTN8 trophy last weekend against AmaZulu in Durban.
The 24-year-old defender has also featured in 12 league matches for Pirates this season, a key member of the back-three that has been used by coach Jose Riveiro since he took over.
However, he missed both matches in the Carling Black Label Cup over the weekend, due to unspecified reasons. It has now been confirmed that Ndah is injured and will not be able his Nigeria call-up.
Ndah was part of Nigeria’s squad that lost in the quarter finals in the AFCON in Cameroon early this year to Tunisia.
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The Pirates defender featured only 14 minutes in the competition, coming in late in the game against Guinea Bissau in the last group stage match where they won 2-0.
Nigeria, who just like South Africa is not going to the World Cup, will face Portugal as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers that will resume in March next year home away matches against Guinea Bissau.
They are heading to this friendly match having lost 2-0 to Costa Rica earlier this month, but that was not the strongest Nigerian squad that went down in San Jose.
That team was led by Salif Yufsuf, who is their assistant coach to Jose Peseiro, with the Portuguese coach being Nigeria’s head coach. Nigeria and Portugal will be meeting for the first time as they have never faced each other before.
Nigeria squad to face Portugal:
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Watford FC, England); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)
Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)
Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Aris Thessaloniki, Greece)
Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Terem Moffi (Lorient FC, France); Paul Onuachu (Genk FC, Belgium); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest, England)
However, on Monday the Nigeria Football Federation announced that Chidozie Awaziem replaced Ndah, while While Cyriel Dessers replaced Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
Ndah’s withdrawal is especially sad because it was his first call-up since the AFCON.
