Jamaica to face Nigeria
Published:Tuesday | February 10, 2009 | 5:56 PM
Jamaica’s Reggae Boys and the Super Eagles of Nigeria will face off in a friendly international football game at the New Den Stadium in England tomorrow afternoon Jamaican time.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 2:45 Jamaican time.
The Jamaican side will be missing a number of key players due to injuries.
Captain Ricardo Gardner, striker Ricardo Fuller, defensive stalwart Ian Goodison, utility player Tyrone Marshall and first-string goalkeeper Donovan Rickets have all been forced out of the squad.
Also out is Darren Pratley, of English Championship club Swansea City, who was expected to make his debut for Jamaica.
As a result of the injuries coach John Barnes was forced to call up other players including twenty year old West Ham United striker Zavon Hines, who is tipped to earn his first cap for Jamaica.
Barnes has also recalled 1998 World Cup veteran Deon Burton of English Championship side Charlton Athletic.
Wolry Wolfe, who was a part of the winning Digicel Caribbean Championships squad but did not play because of injury, has also been drafted into the squad.
Nigeria will be without both first-string strikers Yakubu Aiyegbeni of Everton and Newcastle United’s Obafemi Martins because of injuries.