Super Eagles news: Ndidi, Victory withdrawals open unexpected door for 2 newcomers

Wilfred Ndidi and Akpe Victory’s withdrawals have unexpectedly opened the door for two Super Eagles newcomers, Soccernet.ng reports.

Midfielder John Otomewo and defender Vince Osuji have been called up as replacements for Ndidi and Victory, respectively. The duo are handed a chance to turn late call-ups into a breakthrough moment under Eric Chelle.

The pair were not originally central to Nigeria’s plans for the Russia friendly, but the absence of two established figures has suddenly placed their futures in their own hands.

Otomewo, 19, is a defensive midfielder who joined French Ligue 2 side Reims from Hapoel Jerusalem in July on a contract running until 2031.

Before joining Reims he started more than 90 per cent of his matches for Hapoel. CIES previously placed the highly-rated youngster among the top three under-21 midfielders playing outside Europe’s five major leagues.

Otomewo joins a Super Eagles midfield that already has other newbies like Chibuzo Nwoko, Fumen Michael, Igor George Wilfred, and Popoola Abdulrasaq.

As Victory’s replacement, Osuji will compete for minutes alongside other invited defenders including Rangers’ Emmanuel Fernandez and Benjamin Fredrick.

The 20-year-old centre-back joined Norwegian club Tromsø from Club Brugge in August and has already featured in the Eliteserien and UEFA Conference League qualification this season. He has logged 137 minutes in three league appearances.

Russia could change their Super Eagles futures

Neither player was originally expected to be central to the Russia assignment. Now both have a rare chance to turn emergency call-ups into serious auditions.

Otomewo can show Chelle whether he possesses the discipline and composure to operate in Nigeria’s midfield, while Osuji can strengthen the centre-back pool after Victory’s withdrawal.

Chelle is keen to use the Russia fixture to assess younger players with an eye on his wider plans, making the October 6 encounter potentially significant for both newcomers.

A convincing performance against the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosts could transform their status from late replacements into names Chelle cannot easily overlook.