TheCable

Nigeria’s first-choice left back, Elderson Echiejile, has been ruled out of the World Cup.

The Monaco defender sustained a hamstring injury in Monday’s friendly encounter against Greece, and trained separately from the team ever since, under the watch of team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran.

Coach Stephen keshi had been reluctant to drop Echiejile, saying on Friday morning that he would not “rush things”.

“We are talking of the World Cup here, not just any other competition so we have to be careful what we say here regarding our top players,” Keshi had said after Friday’s training.

But on Saturday, Echiejile was ruled out after doctors confirmed he would need a minimum of two weeks to recover.

The news was confirmed by one of the commentators during Nigeria’s friendly against the United States.

Echiejile’s place in the team would be taken by Ejike Uzoenyi, one of the seven players chopped from the initial 30-man list.

The result is that Nigeria travels to Brazil with Israeli-based Juwon Oshaniwa as the only recognised left back.