Oliseh To Meet Ighalo, Moses, Others Next Week

• Fears For ‘On-And-Off’ Victor Moses
Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, is expected to begin a tour of Europe next week to hold talks with players he will use to prosecute the double-header 2017 African Nations Cup qualifiers against the Pharaohs of Egypt.

Nigeria is in Group G of the qualifying series alongside Egypt, Tanzania and Chad and with the Pharaohs leading the group with six points as against four points for the Eagles. Tanzania and Chad are bottom of the table with one and zero point respectively.

The senior national team will face Egypt in Kaduna on March 23 in a game Oliseh must win to keep the nation’s qualification hope alive. The return leg comes up in Cairo on March 29.

Super Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, yesterday disclosed to The Guardian that Oliseh would visit some of the players who are based in Europe next week to ‘put heads together’ on how to go about the decisive fixtures.

“The coach knows the crucial nature of the two matches and he is planning ahead. He is monitoring the players and he will visit some of the players who are based in Europe next week to hold talks with them,” Ibitoye said.

Meanwhile, Oliseh has insisted he would delay his choice of players like Chelsea loanee Victor Moses for next month’s all-important AFCON’s double-header against Egypt to be sure they will be available for the matches.

Injury-troubled Victor Moses, who is on loan to West Ham from Chelsea, has not played under Oliseh since he took charge of the Eagles in July 2015, but he is now believed to be in the team’s plans ahead of the qualifiers.

Speaking with Mtnfootball.com, Oliseh said: “Victor Moses is doing well, but he is always on and off, injured…okay…injured… okay…”

“We will pick players who are fit and doing well, but we will only do that just about the time we will invite the players because what if I have a player on my head now and just when we will invite, he is injured or has some problems?”The Eagles boss also disclosed he has not ruled out some new faces for the Egypt matches.

“It’s very possible (to call up new players) because this game is one we want to go with all the artillery we have. Everyone who is doing well knows he will be considered for selection,” Oliseh added. Only the group winner is guaranteed automatic qualification to Gabon 2017 AFCON.