Nigeria vs Algeria friendly threatened as Desert Foxes’ defender Chetti contracts coronavirus
- Nigeria vs Algeria is billed to hold on October 9 in Austria
- Latest reports have it that a player of the North African team has tested positive for coronavirus
- The Super Eagles are also billed for a friendly against Tunisia on October 13
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With barely six days to the much anticipated friendly between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Desert Foxes of Algeria, a player of the North African side Ilyes Chetti has tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus, Complete Sports reports.
The Esperance of Tunisia defender has been ordered into 10-day self-isolation, meaning he will be unavailable for his country’s friendlies against Nigeria and Mexico.
Nigeria’s game against the Fennec Foxes is billed for October 9 and head coach of the Algerian national team Djamel Belmadi will release the names of players to prosecute the game over the weekend.
Recall that Super Eagles' friendly against Cote d'Ivoire was canceled after the Ivorian FA sent a letter to the NFF regretting that The Elephants will not be able to honor the friendly citing ‘internal problems’.
But reigning African champions Algeria have accepted the offer to face Gernot Rohr's side on October 9, 2020, in Austria.
Earlier reports had it that Algeria will likely face the Super Eagles of Nigeria without six key players as both teams prepare for the encounter.
Complete Sports citing africanfootballhq.com say that Youcef Atal, as well as his Nice teammate Hicham Boudaoui are injured and both players have been ruled out of the clash.
Source: Getty Images
Coach Belmadi will also be without Saudi Arabia-based duo, Djamel Benlamiri and Youcef Belaili, who were part of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.
The pair are yet to return to their clubs in Saudi Arabia since football returned after the lockdown and they have been declared match rusty.
Also Adam Ounas and Islam Slimani are yet to taste action this season and are unlikely to be invited for the friendlies.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Super Eagles handler Gernot Rohr has invited three new players - CSKA Moscow's Chidera Ejuke, ex-Golden Eaglets captain Samson Tijani and goalkeeper Tobias Lawal for the matches.
Tijani who recently signed for Red Bull Salzburg has been loaned out to Austrian side TSV Hartberg while Lawal also plays in Austria with Linz.
On the other hand, Ejuke left Eredivisie outfit Heerenveen during the summer window to join Russian club CSKA Moscow.
Regular players have also been called up including captain Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi and a host of others.
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Source: Legit.ng
