CHAN 2016: Chikatara, Usman doubtful for Guinea game

With the Eagles set to reach the quarter finals, the star forward as well as the midfielder may miss the game when Sunday Oliseh's boys face Guinea on Tuesday

Chisom Chikatara is a major doubt for Nigeria's crucial final Group C game against Guinea at the African Nations Championship on Tuesday.

According to head coach Sunday Oliseh, the tournament's leading scorer is suffering from a minor knock and will be assessed alongside midfielder Mohammed Usman who is also suffering from pains in his groin.

“We took Usman out in the game against Tunisia because he was feeling some pains in his groin,” Oliseh told media ahead of Tuesday's game.               

“Chikatara is almost in the same stage and we will decide how we are going to use them in the game and that is if we are going to use them at all, if they can’t play in the game, then we will play without them.”

The two players trained alongside the remaining players on Monday as the coach remains hopeful to get all the 23 players fit for the game.

Oliseh also reiterated his team’s ambition as they aim to progress beyond the group stage of the tournament.

The tactician believes his boys have what it takes to get the result needed on Tuesday to progress to the next stage of the competition after securing a 1-1 draw against the Carthage Eagles following their opening 4-1 defeat of Niger.

“We have our game plan, as we are here for business and not ready to take the next available flight home to Nigeria.

“When you come from Nigeria for a competition, you don’t say you are there to witness it especially a competition in Africa.

“We have ambition to also win it but we have to be very realistic, since we are building a completely new team who have been together for just a little while compared to countries like DR Congo, Tunisia and all those who came with their real team. But that doesn’t mean we want to leave the competition in the group stage,” he ended.

Nigeria currently lead Group C with four points and require a draw against Guinea to reach the knock out stages. While a win will secure top position no matter the result from the second game involving Tunisia and Niger.