In a setback for the Super Eagles ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group A clash against Equatorial Guinea, star strikers Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu were conspicuously absent from the team's final workout, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Recall, Iheanacho had been with the doctors in Leicester City, working in his fitness due to muscular injury, while Onuachu got a late invite due to Sadiq Umar getting injured while in Abu Dhabi for camping exercise.
Despite Coach Jose Peseiro's earlier announcement of their arrival in Abidjan, the duo remained sidelined during today's training session, effectively ruling them out of the opening match.
However, the rest of the squad participated in a comprehensive two-hour session, with an additional hour allocated for recovery.
The absence of Iheanacho and Onuachu poses a notable challenge for Nigeria's attacking options in the tournament.
Nigeria will play the Nzalang Nacional in Sunday by 3pm.
By Olujimi Dare Ogun