Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi has replaced SC Heerenveen of
Netherlands’ striker Uche Nwofor, with power-playing Bright Dike of
Toronto FC of Canada in his squad to face both Ethiopia and Italy in the next eight days.
Dike, who was brought into the squad only last year and scored a fabulous goal in a high-profile friendly against Catalonia in Barcelona in January, missed the cut for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations that Nigeria won in South Africa.
“We are bringing him into the squad because we know what he is capable
of doing and we believe he is fully fit to deliver,” Coach Keshi said.
The Super Eagles lead the Ethiopians 2-1 from the first leg and are
expected to conclude the assignment successfully at the U. J. Esuene
Stadium in Calabar, to bag one of Africa’s five tickets to the 2014
FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.
Two days later, the Eagles take on four-time world champions Italy at
the Craven Cottage ground of England Premiership club, Fulham FC, in
London, in a high-profile friendly match.
Meanwhile, world football-governing body, FIFA, has replaced Rwandan official, Felicien Kabanda, earlier billed to serve as Assistant Referee 2 in Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ethiopia at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
A new circular sent by the world body indicates that the role will now
be played by Marwa Range from Kenya.
All other officials as previously announced retain their roles.
Saturday’s game is the final qualifying game for the African champions, and they hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg away in Ethiopia last month.