Super Eagles hit by late withdrawals ahead of Bafana Bafana clash

Reigning African champions coach Stephen Keshi says his Nigerian team will be without Chelsea's John Obi Mikel and Fenerbahce's striker Emmanuel Emenike.

Keshi says Mikel has been withdrawn from the squad due to a stomach bug. Keshi's star-studded charges takes on Bafana in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Wednesday, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, kick-off at 8.15pm. The former Nigerian captain now mentor says beside missing the two players, he has assembled a strong team and is happy to play against Bafana Bafana.

He rates Bafana Bafana as one of the best in Southern Africa and will be using the outing in preparations toward their game against Malawi in three weeks’ time. "I think it's the right team to play against now, we have to use our best players, because we are playing against Bafana Bafana it's a good team, so we cannot come here with mediocre team, we have to come with a very strong team," explained Keshi.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana also have their share of headaches ahead of the encounter. Coach Igesund Igesund has lambasted the Belgian Racing Genk club for refusing to release defender Anele Ngcongca. He says the club initially agreed to release the player but he was later told that he was injured.

Igesund says late last night he got a phone call from the coach telling him that Anele got injured. Igesund has questioned the sudden and have now reported the issues to the South African Football Association (Safa) and is sure that Safa will take the matter further with FIFA. "Anele Ngcongca really annoyed me, the injuries I can't do nothing about but it shows a lack of respect from these club on a very special day like this and of course being a FIFA day and unfortunately it happened and we need to set a precedent, we need to do the right thing, there are procedures and we will do those things as I said it's now out of my hands."


Source: SABC