More withdrawals hit Nigeria ahead of Colombia clash

Nigeria will field an under-strength team for Wednesday's friendly against Colombia in Cali after more withdrawals, officials disclosed.

Everton defender Joseph Yobo, Osaze Odemwingie and Chidi Odiah were first to opt out of the game before Seyi Olofinjana, Chinedu Ogbuke-Obasi and goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Dele Aiyegnugba also pulled out.

Both Olofinjana and Ogbuke-Obasi suffered injury during matches for their clubs at the weekend while Enyeama and Aiyenugba failed to secure visas to Colombia.

“It's a disturbing situation,” said Adeboye Onigbinde, a technical consultant for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“This clearly shows that we have to make the team a lot more competitive so as to avoid such a thing again.”

In the absence of these key players, coach Shuaibu Amodu will most likely pick several of the players who reached the final of the Beijing Olympics in August.

Nigeria are using the Colombia game to prepare for the joint qualifying tournament for the 2010 World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.

They are drawn in a group that includes Tunisia, Kenya and Mozambique. The qualifying series resumes in March.