‘Mikel, Ighalo may be handed Algeria duty’

A top official of the Super Eagles has told SCORENigeria that China-based skipper Mikel Obi and striker Odion Ighalo have not been ruled out of next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria.

Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has suggested Mikel and Ighalo could miss the dead-rubber qualifier in Algeria because they won’t have enough time to adjust to a new time zone in time for the match, but that may not be the case after all.

The qualifier in Algeria is fixed for November 10 and SCORENigeria checks have revealed that the Chinese Super League will end on November 4, which will give the players enough time to join up with the Eagles training camp in Casablanca, Morocco.

“Both Mikel and Odion are not ruled out of the match in Algeria,” the official informed.

“I believe there was a little mix-up on this matter, but you can clearly see they have enough time to fly in and adjust to the change in time difference and still be part of the team for the Algeria match.”

Nigeria have already qualified for Russia 2018 after they won Group B, while Algeria are bottom of the standings with a solitary point.