Nyandoro injury blow for Warriors

Nyandoro injury blow for Warriors

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By Ike Tinotenda

MAMELODI Sundowns midfielder Esrom Nyandoro has been ruled out of the World Cup/African Cup of Nations clash against Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.

Warriors coach Charles Mhlauri confirmed Nyandoro will not be part of the traveling party after the South Africa based midfielder was injured while turning out for his club.

“Esrom received a knock in South Africa and chances are that he will not recover in time for the trip to Nigeria. Tinashe Nengomasha or Edelbert Dinha will fill his position depending on who I get first between the two,” said the 36 year-old mentor.

Nengomasha had initially been over-looked by Mhlauri while Dinha was dropped following his fall-out with the technical department after he came late in the previous camp in the run up to the match against Rwanda. Nyandoro has been part of the Warriors set up since the days of Sunday Chidzambwa and many are tipping him to be the next Warriors captain because his unquestionable loyalty and discipline.

Mhlauri explained why he had left out Nengomasha. “Nengomasha had asked to be left out of the Nigeria game because he felt he wanted to recover fully from his injury. I never dropped him and he is in my plans. Dimha is also in the picture,” he said.

Nyandoro becomes the second high profile player after robust striker Shingi Kawondera. Kawondera is battling to have a new passport with revelations that his present one had an error. His gender was written as female. Nigeria have named a full strength squad which includes their skipper Austin Jay Jay Okocha of Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion forward Nwanko Kanu for the tie.

The Super Eagles can still qualify for the sole ticket to Germany if they win this encounter while praying group leaders Angola draw or lose against Rwanda in Kigali. The Warriors are now out of the World Cup but qualified for the African Cup of Nations finals to be played in Egypt next January. It is the second time that the Warriors have qualified for the continental competition after qualifying for the first time in 2004 in Tunisia.
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