The June 4 international friendly between Nigeria and Cameroon appears to be under threat.
When the Nigeria Football Federation announced that the Super Eagles will be playing an international friendly against the Indomitable Lions many had reservations not because of the quality of opposition but due to the timing.
The friendly is coming just after the end of a hectic season.
We all know how tirelessly these players worked for their respective clubs all through the season and how they would cherish having a deserved rest, so hurriedly arranging a friendly was not plausible.
The fears expressed now appear to be justified with the lamentations of coach Gernot Rohr in his interview with ESPN.
He told ESPN: “We had nine defenders in list. Six now are out.
“They said they had some injuries and the doctors from the clubs said they need to rest because they have some pains. So we got some medical attestations from the teams.
“Ola Aina told me yesterday that his ankle is painful and he cannot make it and the club physio said he cannot play. Then we have (Kevin) Akpoguma, we knew already he is injured and cannot play.
“Victor Osimhen is injured. He send us an attestation. The meniscus in his knee is painful.
“(Zaidu) Sanusi is injured. He was in Paris to see a doctor, for surgery perhaps but not for the moment. (Tyronne) Ebuehi sent us a message with a medical attestation that he cannot make it. And Semi Ajayi also says he has problems with his back and the Physio says he needs two weeks of rest.
“Simy Nwankwo also, they send us attestation from his club that he cannot make it because he is injured.”
Unfortunately for Rohr, the home-based players that would have readily jumped on the opportunity to play for Nigeria against Cameroon were never invited.
They would require at least 10 days to secure entry visas which makes it impossible for them to be considered for the June 4 test match
