Eagles friendly: Nwaiwu set to replace injured Bassey 

Eagles friendly: Nwaiwu set to replace injured Bassey 

Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu is in pole position to replace injured Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey in the team for the upcoming friendly tournament in Turkey

Bassey was ruled out of the tournament with a back injury earlier Wedndesday  leaving the team with just three centre backs heading into games against Iran and Jordan respectively.

Igho Ogbu who was a part of the team to the last AFCON is available to pair Bassey’s regular partner Semi Ajayi, leaving newly invited Emmanuel Fernandez as the only option on the ben

Head coach Eric Chelle is yet to make a decision, but team sources say in the event that he decides to pick a replacement to provide more cover at centre back, then the former Enyimba defender is likely to be his pick.

Since moving to Trabzonspor in the January transfer window Nwaiwu has cemented his spot in the heart of the defence for his new side, and with the fact that the tournament will be in Turkey he is top of the list of possible replacement.

The Super Eagles will face Iran in their first friendly on Friday, before taking on Jordan in their second outing on Tuesday.