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Manager Gernot Rohr opted to make four changes to the side that defeated the Republic of Benin when the three-time African champions tackled Lesotho on Tuesday evening.
Stoke City loanee Oghenekaro Etebo, Benfica loanee Tyronne Ebuehi and APOEL goalkeeper Francis Uzoho were three of the four changes Rohr opted to make to his startling lineup.
Now it has come to light that the aforementioned players were named in the starting XI only because goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, right-back Ola Aina and central midfielder Joe Aribo failed fitness tests before the squad headed to the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
"Maduka Okoye was sick, in the last moment he had stomach problems, he could not play, he had to stay in the hotel but he is much better now and he could leave Lagos," Rohr explained.
"We had to change four players with the goalkeeper. Ola Aina was still a little bit injured and tired from the Benin game and of course Alex was coming in for Henry and also Aribo who was sick, the same like Okoye - stomach problem - was replaced by Etebo."
"We had to change four players with the goalkeeper. Ola Aina was still a little bit injured and tired from the Benin game and of course Alex was coming in for Henry and also Aribo who was sick, the same like Okoye - stomach problem - was replaced by Etebo."
The German football tactician explained why the Super Eagles had one training session that lasted for just over an hour after returning from the Republic of Benin.
"It's not easy to come in in the last moment without any training session on Sunday, we arrived late in Lagos and having again the celebration of the President's election, so we could not train on Sunday.
"On Monday was a short training session and not at all for Alex Iwobi who had the authorization to play only few hours before the second game.
"He was in quarantine since the morning of the match in Cotonou."
Nigeria were undefeated in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after racking up four wins and playing two draws with Sierra Leone.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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