Friendly: Ajayi, Ogbu Sit Out Training Ahead Of Jordan Clash

Nigeria’s defensive plans for Tuesday’s international friendly against Jordan have been thrown into uncertainty after two key centre-backs, Semi Ajayi and Igoh Ogbu, were conspicuously absent from a recovery training session on Saturday.

The Super Eagles are riding a wave of confidence following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Iran on Friday. Goals from Akor Adams and Moses Simon secured the win for the 2025 AFCON bronze medalists, offering head coach Eric Chelle plenty of positives as he continues to fine-tune his squad. However, the mood in camp has been tempered by concerns over the fitness of two of his trusted defensive options.

During the Iran clash, Semi Ajayi, the experienced Hull City defender, was substituted at halftime. Youngster Emmanuel Fernandez was brought on in his place, but the reason for Ajayi’s early withdrawal was not disclosed by the coaching staff after the final whistle. Similarly, Igoh Ogbu, who has been a reliable presence for Slavia Prague this season, was forced off in the 56th minute after appearing to sustain an injury. He was replaced by debutant Chibuike Nwaiwu, who earned his first senior cap in unexpected circumstances.

The full nature and severity of Ogbu’s issue have yet to be officially communicated by the team’s medical unit. However, recovery footage released by the Super Eagles’ media team on Saturday offered an alarming clue. The clip showed nine of the starting eleven from the Iran game taking part in light jogging and stretching exercises—but both Ajayi and Ogbu were nowhere to be seen. Their absence has fueled speculation that they are either undergoing separate treatment or are being held out as a precaution.

It is worth noting that only four days separate the two friendlies, and with the Jordan match carrying less competitive weight than a qualifying fixture, coach Eric Chelle may simply be avoiding any unnecessary risk.

The Super Eagles have two more training sessions scheduled—one on Sunday and another on Monday—before they take on Jordan. If either Ajayi or Ogbu remains absent from those sessions, their availability for Tuesday’s encounter will be in serious doubt.

Should both defenders be ruled out, Chelle will have to rethink his backline. The likes of Emmanuel Fernandez and Chibuike Nwaiwu, both of whom gained valuable minutes against Iran, could be in line for starts. Alternatively, the coach may opt to shuffle his formation or call upon other standby defenders currently in camp.

For now, the Nigerian camp is adopting a cautious stance. With no official update yet released, fans and analysts alike will be watching Sunday’s training footage closely.

The Jordan friendly represents one of Nigeria’s final preparation opportunities ahead of upcoming AFCON qualifiers, and Chelle will be desperate to have his strongest available squad on the pitch. But if Ajayi and Ogbu are forced to sit out, it will be a valuable test of Nigeria’s defensive depth.