The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), have made two adjustments to the Super Eagles roster ahead of the friendly against Portugal at the Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon.
Following Victor Osimhen’s decision to pull out of the squad, citing injury after featuring last weekend in Napoli’s 3-2 victory over Udinese, Cyriel Dessers has been named as his replacement for the friendly billed for Thursday in Lisbon.
Dessers has been struggling for game-time in the national team, as he has played just three friendly matches with one goal under his belt.
In Serie A, Dessers has played 13 matches for Cremonese, scoring two goals and assisting once. Dessers scored against the Desert Foxes Algeria in one of the two friendlies played in September in Algeria.
Nigeria will face World Cup-bound Portugal on Thursday from 7:45pm Nigeria time.
Also, Boavista loanee Chidozie Awaziem has been handed a late call-up as a replacement for Orlando Pirates star Olisa Ndah, who has withdrawn from the squad due to an injury.
Ndah was not in the Orlando Pirates squad beaten 4-0 by Mamelodi Sundowns in a Cup clash at the weekend.
Awaziem becomes a logical replacement for the South African-based defender as he has been arguably Nigeria’s most in-form central defender in Europe this season with four goals in 14 appearances for Hajduk Split in the Croatian SuperSport HNL.
