Posted by By John Egbokhan on
ON the day that the Algeria named a crack 22-man squad to face the Super Eagles on Sunday, the captain of the Nigerian team, Austin Okocha sensationally ruled himself out of the make-or-mar World Cup qualifier against the Desert Warriors.
ON the day that the Algeria named a crack 22-man squad to face the Super Eagles on Sunday, the captain of the Nigerian team, Austin Okocha sensationally ruled himself out of the make-or-mar World Cup qualifier against the Desert Warriors.
Okocha, who steered his Premiership side, Bolton Wanderers to victory against West Ham at the weekend, said he would not be in Algeria because of groin injury in the weekend's match.
The Bolton skipper said he had no chance of recovering in time for the must-win tie against the Algerians, who have nothing but pride to play for against the Nigerians.
Okocha's u-turn is coming on the heels of a similar injury fear made by Everton defender, Joseph Yobo , who at the weekend, said he was struggling with an nagging knee injury cropped during the course of action in a Champions League qualification tie against Villareal in Spain and last Saturday's Premiership 1-0 loss at Fulham.
Although Yobo did not categorically rule himself out of the Algerian tie, his teammate, Okocha, did not mince words when he was quoted to have said that "I'm not going for the match with Algeria because I have a problem with my groin and need a scan".
He however wished the team all the luck against the Algerians. This is one of the times Okocha would be ruling himself out of a crucial World Cup qualifier in this current campaign.
"I think they will do well. I will be sending them my best wishes", Okocha was quoted to have said on thisisbolton.co.uk.
This is coming at a time when their opponents, have made public the hit squad which they hope would redeem the country's lost pride.
According to a Reuters report, coach Meziane Ihil has penciled down at least 14 foreign-based players for the redemption match against the Eagles.
Parading, at least three strikers playing in the French Championait, Ihil hopes that his strikers' mix would puncture Eagles' World Cup ambition.