Head coach of Nigeria’s men’s senior national team, Stephen Keshi, has granted domestic league players invited for next month’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Chad a two-day grace to allow them feature in Wednesday’s Glo Premier League Match Day 10 fixtures.
All 26 invited home-based players were initially scheduled to report to camp on Tuesday, but that has now been shifted further by 48 hours to allow the players participate with their various club sides.
“We want to allow the players to feature for their clubs in the midweek games, so that they will know that once they report to camp, they will not be going anywhere again,” the 53-year-old tactician, who over the weekend witnessed Gabros International’s 1-0 home win over Sharks FC, said.
“It is important that they come to camp and concentrate. We don’t want distractions, especially with the team scheduled to play a number of friendly matches in the weeks to come before the qualifier against Chad.”
Keshi has invited three goalkeepers, nine defenders, six midfielders and eight strikers from the home group for the match, with the list of overseas-based professionals due to be released this weekend.
Nigeria host Chad on June 13 in Kaduna.
