Nigeria manager Stephen Keshi has
expressed serious doubts about Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi eventually
turning up for the friendly match against Mexico.
The African champions face Mexico in Houston, Texas, on May 31 to prepare for a hectic schedule in June when they will play two World Cup qualifiers as well as feature in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
While the Super Eagles are in Germany, Mikel is in England to process an entry visa to Brazil in time for the Confederations Cup.
“I’m not sure he’s coming,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com from the Eagles training camp in Germany.
“Our initial agreement with Chelsea was for them to drop off both Mikel and Victor Moses after their game. But now he is pursuing a visa to Brazil. We’re also not sure about his condition, if he is fit or not. And so, Mikel might not be there with us.”
The Eagles have been seriously depleted by the withdrawal of several players because of injuries as well as club engagements.
Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Kalu Uche, Gabriel Reuben have already been ruled out because of injury, while Ahmed Musa, Fegor Ogude and Efe Ambrose are involved in cup finals at their various European clubs.
The Eagles will fly out of Frankfurt, Germany, to the US on Tuesday morning.
But while Mikel stays out, Chelsea have said Moses is expected to be fully fit again by July 6.
Keshi said the English Premier League club have informed his team official they expect Moses to be back playing again in less than two months. Chelsea say Moses has been battling injuries towards the end of the season and as such he is unavailable for the series of matches involving Nigeria.
The 22-year-old Moses passed a late fitness test to be in the Chelsea squad for the all important clash with Aston Villa earlier this month.
Moses picked up a knock in a 2-2 draw at home against Tottenham Hotspur.
“Chelsea have informed us that Moses cannot play again till July 6, but he will be with them in the US,” Keshi said.
However, it is not clear the nature of the winger’s injury.
The injury-hit Moses has already pulled out of the Nigeria squad for a series of matches beginning with a friendly against Mexico on May 31 in the United States of America.
The African champions face Mexico in Houston, Texas, on May 31 to prepare for a hectic schedule in June when they will play two World Cup qualifiers as well as feature in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
While the Super Eagles are in Germany, Mikel is in England to process an entry visa to Brazil in time for the Confederations Cup.
“I’m not sure he’s coming,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com from the Eagles training camp in Germany.
“Our initial agreement with Chelsea was for them to drop off both Mikel and Victor Moses after their game. But now he is pursuing a visa to Brazil. We’re also not sure about his condition, if he is fit or not. And so, Mikel might not be there with us.”
The Eagles have been seriously depleted by the withdrawal of several players because of injuries as well as club engagements.
Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Kalu Uche, Gabriel Reuben have already been ruled out because of injury, while Ahmed Musa, Fegor Ogude and Efe Ambrose are involved in cup finals at their various European clubs.
The Eagles will fly out of Frankfurt, Germany, to the US on Tuesday morning.
But while Mikel stays out, Chelsea have said Moses is expected to be fully fit again by July 6.
Keshi said the English Premier League club have informed his team official they expect Moses to be back playing again in less than two months. Chelsea say Moses has been battling injuries towards the end of the season and as such he is unavailable for the series of matches involving Nigeria.
The 22-year-old Moses passed a late fitness test to be in the Chelsea squad for the all important clash with Aston Villa earlier this month.
Moses picked up a knock in a 2-2 draw at home against Tottenham Hotspur.
“Chelsea have informed us that Moses cannot play again till July 6, but he will be with them in the US,” Keshi said.
However, it is not clear the nature of the winger’s injury.
The injury-hit Moses has already pulled out of the Nigeria squad for a series of matches beginning with a friendly against Mexico on May 31 in the United States of America.
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