Calvin Bassey and Frank Onyeka have been sidelined from the upcoming friendly between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Mali's Eagles in Marrakech, Morocco. Both players, based in England, have returned to their respective bases due to injuries, failing to recover in time for the match.
The absence of Bassey and Onyeka is a notable setback for the Super Eagles, who are already facing the challenge of missing several key players. Both players played crucial roles in the Super Eagles' journey to the final of the AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in February, where they unfortunately lost to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
Despite the absence of key players like William Troost-Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Ola Aina, and Taiwo Awoniyi, the Super Eagles secured an impressive victory over arch-rivals Ghana in Finidi George's inaugural game as caretaker head coach. Cyriel Dessers and AFCON 2023 standout Ademola Lookman found the net as the Super Eagles triumphed 2-1 in Marrakech.
These friendly matches serve as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June. Nigeria's qualifying campaign got off to a somewhat rocky start with draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in their first two matches. As they strive to secure their place in the World Cup, these friendlies provide valuable opportunities for tactical refinement and player assessment.
