Nigeria’s Super Eagles look to put a turbulent week behind them when they face Cameroon in today's friendly in Brussels, Belgium.
Captain and star goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama declared last week that he was bringing his 13-year international career to an end, following a dispute with head coach Sunday Oliseh over the stripping of his captaincy.
The 33-year-old had been granted an extended period of leave following the death of his mother, though Oliseh was quick to deny that any confrontation had been caused by the matter.
Captain and star goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama declared last week that he was bringing his 13-year international career to an end, following a dispute with head coach Sunday Oliseh over the stripping of his captaincy.
The 33-year-old had been granted an extended period of leave following the death of his mother, though Oliseh was quick to deny that any confrontation had been caused by the matter.
Oliseh told Brila FM that the news of Enyeama's retirement was "very sad" but Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has urged the team to look to the future after they were beaten 2-0 by DR Congo in a friendly last Thursday.
"There is no time for us to dwell on this defeat. We were not at the last Africa Cup of Nations finals, but the Congolese were there and finished the tournament as bronze medal-winners," he said in a message via the NFF's website.
"There is no time for us to dwell on this defeat. We were not at the last Africa Cup of Nations finals, but the Congolese were there and finished the tournament as bronze medal-winners," he said in a message via the NFF's website.
"It is not an excuse to lose to them. But it is a fact. However, I have no doubt in your ability to turn things around when we play Cameroon on Sunday. That means you need to put this defeat behind you and focus hard on Sunday's match."
Wolves' Carl Ikeme played in the loss to DR Congo but question marks remain over whether Oliseh will experiment with his line-up in today's friendly.
Wolves' Carl Ikeme played in the loss to DR Congo but question marks remain over whether Oliseh will experiment with his line-up in today's friendly.
Cameroon themselves head into the encounter with selection problems of their own. Forward Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, his Schalke team-mate Joel Matip and midfielder Eyong Enoh are all expected to miss the match in Brussels with fitness concerns.
Cameroon have prevailed in their last two internationals - both in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying - by a solitary goal, and will be looking to continue their winning momentum as they prepare for competitive internationals in the African Nations Championship and World Cup qualifying over the next month.
Nigeria, by contrast have won just twice in 2015 and are desperate to receive a morale boost prior to their meeting with Burkina Faso next week.
Oliseh will seek redemption when his team files out today knowing a win will ease up the pressure from fans and boost team confidence. He will be looking for a rapid response that will see his side bounce back against the four-time African champions.
“The most important thing (was) allowing the boys rest (after the game with DR Congo) and freshen up the minds. We have to take the positives from that defeat against Congo DR,” he said.
Cameroon have prevailed in their last two internationals - both in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying - by a solitary goal, and will be looking to continue their winning momentum as they prepare for competitive internationals in the African Nations Championship and World Cup qualifying over the next month.
Nigeria, by contrast have won just twice in 2015 and are desperate to receive a morale boost prior to their meeting with Burkina Faso next week.
Oliseh will seek redemption when his team files out today knowing a win will ease up the pressure from fans and boost team confidence. He will be looking for a rapid response that will see his side bounce back against the four-time African champions.
“The most important thing (was) allowing the boys rest (after the game with DR Congo) and freshen up the minds. We have to take the positives from that defeat against Congo DR,” he said.
Oliseh however bemoaned a paucity of options in the team’s central defence. “We desperately need cover for the central defence position as the duo of Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo were badly missed in the defeat to Congo DR.
“We are building and we are getting more and more players buy into our philosophy and the cohesion is getting better,” he said.
Oliseh has so far managed three games as Nigeria coaches and has masterminded one win, one draw and one defeat.
“We are building and we are getting more and more players buy into our philosophy and the cohesion is getting better,” he said.
Oliseh has so far managed three games as Nigeria coaches and has masterminded one win, one draw and one defeat.
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