Empoli defender Tyronne Ebuehi will miss the Super Eagles' upcoming international friendlies with Ghana and Mali through injury.
The 28-year-old sustained the injury during Empoli's 1-0 defeat to Bologna last Saturday having replaced Emmanuel Gyasi in the 66th minute.
This will be a big blow to the Super Eagles who already have star forward Victor Osimhen and Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi both sidelined with injuries.
The Super Eagles will square off against the Black Stars of Ghana on March 22, before facing the Eagles of Mali four days later. Both games will be held in Marrakech, Morocco.
With Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel now the only options available at right-back, George Finidi will need to look at other options to replace the Empoli star.
Which players can replace Tyronne Ebuehi for Super Eagles' March friendlies?
Here are three of the possibilities who could replace Ebuehi in the Super Eagles team.
Ismail Sodiq (Remo Stars)
The 21-year-old is talented and has lots of potential. He is one of those players in the wish-list of many managers. There are hushed talks about several European clubs circling around him.
That should tell you how immense a talent he is! Blessed with lightening pace, impressive strength and booming tackle, Sodiq has carved a niche for himself as the best in his position in the Nigerian elite football league. He likes dribbling and needs no invitation to run at opposing defences.
Sodiq's crossing is among he best in the league, and he's also blessed with the ability to spot a pass. He loves to go forward and isn’t found wanting defensively. It is hard enough to pronounce his name, let alone dribble past him.
As of December 2023, Sodiq had provided 10 assists to his teammates in 15 NPFL games.
Matthew Sorinola (Plymouth Argyle)
Plymouth's dependable wing-back has been a consistent performer for the Pilgirms in the EFL Championship. Ian Foster has predominantly utilised him as a wing-back at Plymouth but Finidi will be aware that he would be getting a defender who can attack as well as support his centre-backs.
Sorinola previously featured for Fulham, Milton Keynes Dons, Beaconsfield Town, Union SG and Swansea City. He has made eight appearances and has registered a goal for his club in the ongoing campaign.
Additionally, Sorinola is of Nigerian descent but born in Lambeth, United Kingdom. He has yet to represent either Nigeria or England at international level.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) can capitalise on this and tie him down.
Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague)
Few things are comforting to a manager as casting an eye to the bench and seeing a player with enormous potential and ability, a one-size-fits-all utility player willing to adapt to the game in just about any position without so much as a shrug.
At 24, Ogbu primarily plays as a centre-back but is occasionally assigned to a defensive midfield role. His versatile skills also allow him to play as a right-back.
His reading of the game is so good that he can anticipate situations before they escalate, but if he does get into danger, he can always rely on his long stride to get him out of trouble.
Perhaps more importantly, Ogbu is a leader; the kind of player others look up to, and up their game to impress. He has far made 21 appearances for his club this season.
Ogbu represented the Nigeria under-20 squad in both the 2019 U-20 AFCON and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, accumulating a total of seven appearances.
Perhaps this is an opportune time for him to earn his maiden Super Eagles' call-up.
