Nigeria’s Super Eagles players have all been given medical clearance to play in Tuesday’s reverse fixture of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone after the COVID-19 tests conducted on every player and official returned negative on Monday morning.
It is the second time within five days that the entire Eagles’ delegation would turn in negative results for COVID-19; the first was the tests and results ahead of the match at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Edo State last Friday.
The Super Eagles squad and their officials will travel to Freetown, Sierra Leonean capital today (Monday) aboard a chartered flight for the Tuesday’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Leone Stars.
The Eagles who played a 4-4 draw against the Leone Stars at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium last Friday are expected to be anxious to redeem their battered pride when both teams meet at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown.
The Nigerian team will however be without their top marksman, Victor Osimhen for the encounter after the 21-year-old dislocated his shoulder in the reverse fixture in Benin City last Friday.
Osimhen who has scored four goals in the AFCON qualifiers for the Eagles and has made four assists as well will be out for at least two weeks.
His attendance also remains a doubt for Napoli’s games against leaders AC Milan, HNK Rijeka, Roma and AZ Alkmaar.
Napoli is third on the Serie A table with 14 points from seven matches, three points behind leaders Milan.
The striker has scored two goals in the Italian top flight since his record transfer from Ligue 1 club Lille this past summer.
The Nigerian team is expected to fly back to Abuja immediately after the game on Tuesday.
Nigeria top Group L with seven points from three matches, while Benin Republique who edged Lesotho 1-0 at home last Saturday now have six points.
A win for the Eagles in Freetown on Tuesday will clinch a place for the team at the 2022 AFCON billed for Cameroon.