Nigeria have Victor Osimhen leading the line for today’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final showdown with Algeria.
Osimhen’s place in the Super Eagles’ attack was called into question by some supporters following the striker’s argument with team-mate Ademola Lookman during the round-of-16 win over Mozambique.
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The Galatasaray star berated Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi for not passing him the ball when on a hat-trick and that prompted a verbal altercation which Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi had to diffuse while Calvin Bassey played the peacemaker role.
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle played down the incident while also hinting at punishment for Osimhen for his on-field behaviour.
"What happened on the pitch will stay in the group,” Chelle told reporters.
“I don’t need to tell you what happened or what will happen. For my management, I keep that for me and everything that happens in the life of the group will stay in the life of group."
Osimhen has not been punished by being dropped from the starting lineup against Algeria as Nigeria seek to join Senegal and hosts Morocco in the AFCON semi-finals.
In fact, Chelle names an unchanged team for the quarter-final tie as Cyriel Dessers and Ryan Alebiosu are the only players from the 28-man tournament squad ruled out through injury or suspension.
Bassey, Ndidi and Frank Onyeka start for the Super Eagles, but the trio are all walking the disciplinary tightrope as they are one yellow card away from missing a potential semi-final match against Morocco.
Confirmed team news
Nigeria XI: Nwabali; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Onyeka, Ndidi, Iwobi; Lookman; Osimhen, Adams.
Substitutes: Uzoho, Sanusi, Ogbu, Dele-Bashiru, Chukwueze, Usman, Simon, Obasogie, Onyedika, Onuachu, Awaziem, Ejuke, Lawal, Akinsanmiro, Nnadi.
