Nigeria’s veteran defenders William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo will miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers due to injury, according to OwnGoalNigeria.com.

This surprise move by coach Finidi George throws the defensive lineup into question as both Ekong and Omeruo were expected to lead the backline.

There’s a possibility Omeruo could recover in time, but Ekong is unlikely to feature despite recently returning to training.

On a brighter note, defenders Leon Balogun and Valentine Ozornwafor are reportedly back in contention after missing recent matches. Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi is also expected to return, providing more experience at the back.

The move paves the way for defenders like Gabriel Osho and Tanimu Benjamin to potentially make the final squad.