By Toby Prince
West Ham winger, Victor Moses, has pulled out of the forthcoming friendly matches between the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the DR Congo and Cameroon on Thursday and Sunday respectively in Belgium.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said the former Wigan attacker opted out of the double header as a precautionary move against injury.
Moses has been in fine form since his move to Upton Park starting all four of the Hammers games – with a goal and two assists for his efforts.
His withdrawal would come as a disappointment to Nigerians yawning for his return to the national team.
Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, while regretting the absence of the player, assured fans that the team has enough quality to replace the on loan Chelsea man.
“We have no choice now but to work with the other players who are available,” Oliseh affirmed.
On a positive note, English Premier League duo, Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Watford’s Odion Ighalo were the first to fly into Belgium.
Mikel was not listed as the Blues fell 3-1 to Southampton at the weekend, while Ighalo notched his fifth of the season in his club’s 1-1 draw at AFC Bournemouth.
The official twitter account of the team confirmed the arrival of both players late on Sunday.
England based duo Odion Ighalo @ighalojude,John Mikel Obi are earliest arrivals at the team’s The Verviers Hotel,Verviers camp in Belgium.
— Nigeria Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 4, 2015
Spokesman for the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye, also confirmed their arrival at the Eagles hotel in Belgium, adding that a majority of the call-ups will hit the camp on Monday.
“Mikel and Odion Ighalo are the first arrivals in Belgium for our matches against DRC and Cameroon,” disclosed Ibitoye.
“Most of the other players will be arriving Belgium today (Monday) based on their confirmation to the coach.”
However, the six players from the domestic league are yet to join up as they are yet to be issued visas by the Belgian embassy in Nigeria.
Nigeria take on DRC on Thursday in Vise, before they battle Cameroon on Sunday in Dendermonde as part of preparations for next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against either Swaziland or Djibouti.
