Battle of Uyo: Nigeria, Algeria suffer fresh injury setbacks

All is definitely not well in the camp of both the Super Eagles and the Desert Foxes of Algeria, ahead of the November 12 showdown in Uyo, no thanks to injury worries.

Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr yesterday called up South Africa based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi in place of first choice keeper, Carl Ikeme who has been ruled out by injury.

Algeria who on their part are still sweating over the injury of Italy based El Arbi Hillel Soudani yesterday announced that new kid on the block Adam Ounas who has just pledged his international allegiance to Algeria wont be eligible to play in Uyo.

The France based midfielder who was expected to make his debut for the Foxes in Uyo picked up an injury while in action for his club, Bordeaux.

Algeria’s new manager, Georges Leekens who on Monday released his list of foreign based players included Ounas in his 18-man squad.

According to an official statement on the FAF’s website, the 19-year-old former France U-20 attacking midfielder suffered an ankle problem in his club’s Ligue 1 encounter with Marseille on Sunday evening.

“The medical staff of the Algerian Football Federation has received the medical record of player Adam Ounas following his injury at the Olympic meeting in Marseille – Bordeaux,” a statement on FAF website read.

“Ounas came out in the 74th minute of the match after feeling pain in the ankle. An injury that could land him away for a few weeks.

“He will therefore be exempted from the training of the national team and the match Nigeria – Algeria from November 12, 2016.”