The team landed on the island of Mindelo on Monday morning,
after a four-hour flight from Lagos aboard a chartered Air Peace airline.
There were 21 players on board, following the departure of
UK-based players who returned to base following the unchanged stance of UK
authorities concerning protocols and guidelines that must be observed by anyone
returning to the country after visiting a country on their COVID-19 red label,
of which Cape Verde is one.
Tuesday’s encounter, billed to take place at the 5,000
capacity Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, affords a number of players not
deployed in Friday’s 2-0 win over Liberia in Lagos to stake claims for
permanent shirts in the Nigeria squad.
The absence of Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong and Leon
Balogun probably means that Italy-based Tyronne Ebuehi, Chidozie Awaziem of
Portugal’s FC Boavista and Spain-based Kenneth Omeruo will most likely start
against the Blue Sharks on Tuesday evening.
The departures of two-goal hero Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex
Iwobi also open the door for perhaps Terem Moffi and Henry Onyekuru. But it is
in the midfield that Coach Gernot Rohr would have to empanel entirely
unaccustomed partners and charge them to deliver.
As Oghenekaro Etebo, Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo have all
returned to the UK, Rohr may opt to deploy the versatile Abdullahi Shehu in
midfield as he has done a couple of times, most recently in Sierra Leone
against the Leone Stars in a 2021 AFCON qualifier. Russia-based Chidera Ejuke,
Italy-based former junior international Kingsley Michael and new face Innocent
Bonke from Sweden are all available.
Captain Ahmed Musa will earn his 100th cap for Nigeria, 11
years after he won his first against Madagascar on September 5, 2010 in
Calabar, if he takes any part in Tuesday’s encounter.
He will be the third Super Eagles player to reach the
100-cap landmark after former captains Vincent Enyeama and Joseph Yobo.
Musa, who was just 17 at the time he made his debut in that
2-0 win over Madagascar at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, has since gone on to score
17 goals for Nigeria but has failed to find the back of the net in his last 21
appearances for Nigeria.
The Fatih Karagumruk of Turkey forward last scored for
Nigeria in the 3-2 win over Libya on October 16, 2018 in an Africa Cup of
Nations qualifier played in the Tunisian city of Sfax.
Three points on Tuesday will consolidate Nigeria’s
leadership of Group C, confirmed after the victory over Liberia that followed
the draw between Cape Verde and Central African Republic in Douala. A win will
guarantee Nigeria a minimum three points ahead of any other team in the pool,
even if Liberia’s Lone Star are victorious against Central African Republic in
Monrovia.
A win will also brighten the path of the three-time African
champions to the knockout final round, given that the home and away fixtures
against the Central African Republic is what is on the plate in October.
Super Eagles in Cape Verde
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Daniel
Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The
Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); Kenneth
Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi
Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Valentine
Ozornwafor (Sporting Charleroi, Belgium); Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy);
Midfielders: Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Innocent
Bonke (Malmo FF, Sweden); Kingsley Michael (Bologna FC, Italy); Adekunele
Adeleke (Abia Warriors);
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Kalu
(FC Bordeaux, France); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC
Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient,
France); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, Greece)