Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia has called on his new players to make a case for their regular inclusion in the national team by defeating Madagascar on Sunday in an African Cup of Nations qualifying game.
A handful of star names have been ruled out due to injury ahead of the game which Nigeria need to win to keep up hope of qualifying for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea 2012. Peter Odemwingie, Taye Taiwo, Kalu Uche, Danny Shittu and Yusuf Ayila have all been sidelined.
The coach has now called up Emmanuel Ekpo and Gege Soriola as late replacements. Dynamo Kiev striker, Brown Ideye, who has scored five goals in the new season will also have a chance to impress the gaffer.
“I think this is a great opportunity for other players to prove their case to the national selector,” Siasia told BBC Sport.
“There are enough strikers and midfielders in the original squad to compliment the team at this trying moment.
“We must win in Madagascar [and] we have strikers that can score goals.”
Nigeria will then proceed to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for their friendly encounter with Argentina on September 6.
“We are taking it one step at a time, the game in Madagascar is like a cup final, we are going there to fight for all three points,” the coach said.
“Argentina is only a friendly, we do not have any point to prove to anyone. We’ve got to win our next two matches in our [Nations Cup qualifying] group to secure qualification.
“The two matches (against Madagascar and then at home to Guinea in October) are the biggest games we have to face now.
“Missing some of our players is a wake-up call but we have to do it the hard way.”
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