AFCON 2021: Defender Chidozie Awaziem excited to be back in Super Eagles squad

“I feel happy. I am back and very good now. I had a little knock and had been recovering with the physios, but right now, I am back,” he said.

News Agency of Nigeria • January 18, 2022

Chidozie Awaziem

Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem says he is happy to be back in the team after sustaining an injury that kept him on the sidelines for quite a while.

Awaziem resumed training with the team on Monday ahead of preparations for Nigeria’s final Group ‘D’ game against Guinea-Bissau.

The defender has been cleared by the medical team after recovering from an ankle injury and participated in a training session with the team on Monday at the annexe of Roumde Stadium, Cameroon.

Awaziem, who missed the team’s last two training sessions, fueling speculations in some quarters that he had tested positive for COVID-19, said he was happy to be back.

“I feel happy. I am back and very good now. I had a little knock and had been recovering with the physios, but right now, I am back,” he said.

The Alanyaspor central defender had not been spotted in public since the final workout of the Super Eagles before the team took on the Pharaohs of Egypt in their first group game.

The training started at 8:30 p.m. and ended at 10:00 p.m., with all 27 players participating.

Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen on Friday said Awaziem was recovering from an ankle injury.

Eguavoen, while fielding questions from journalists, clarified that Awaziem was nursing an ankle complaint that saw him miss Saturday’s clash against the Falcons of Jediane (Sudan).

Eguavoen had expressed the hope that Awaziem would join his teammates in training.

It is, however, uncertain if the defender will feature in Wednesday’s game between the Super Eagles and the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau.

Three-time champions, Nigeria, will take to the pitch of Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua, Cameroon, against Guinea Bissau on Wednesday at 8.00 p.m.

With six points from two games, the Nigerian team had already advanced and can only play for a draw to finish top of the group, while Guinea-Bissau have just a point from two games.

A win for Guinea-Bissau will put the team in the frame for consideration among the best third-place finishers if Egypt avoid defeat against bottom side Sudan.

(NAN)

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