Obaje, Egbuchulam replce injured Success, Moses

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has opted for domestic league hotshots after in-form strike duo  Victor Moses and  Isaac Success were withdrawn by their English Premier League clubs from  the Super Eagles’  Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier  against  Zambia in Ndola on Sunday.

Former Burkina Faso manager Rohr, who  will be in the dugout to oversee the Eagles for the second time, had named  Moses and Success  in his 23-man squad for the clash. However, the 63-year-old was forced to name Wikki Tourists striker  Godwin Obaje and  Enugu Rangers forward Chisom Egbuchulam as replacements for the  England-based players on Monday.

Obaje emerged as the Nigerian Premier League top scorer with 18 goals, followed by Egbuchulam, who netted 15 goals including a hat-trick  in the 4-0  hammering of El-Kanemi in Enugu on Sunday to help Rangers claim the league title for the first time  in 32 years.

Moses, who  played at right-wing back in his first Premier League start for Chelsea  since May 2013, suffered a hamstring injury after his head-turning performance in the 2-0 defeat of Hull City  on Saturday.

Success, who joined Watford  from Spanish La Liga outfit Granada during the summer transfer market, has been denied  the  chance to get his first senior international cap after picking  up a knock. He scored  his first goal for the Hornets  to help them claim a 2-2 draw against  Bournemouth on Saturday.

According  to Watford’s official website on Monday, the 20-year-old, who received his first senior call-up for  the Eagles from German manager Rohr,  has been withdrawn from the World Cup qualifier “ as a precaution due to a knock”.

Spokesman for the Nigeria Football Federation Ademola Olajire confirmed that  both Chelsea and Watford had  informed the federation that their players would not honour the Zambia encounter.

Meanwhile,  Rohr has congratulated   Imama Amapakabo  after  the Eagles assistant coach  led  Rangers to a historic league  win.

Imama made history on Sunday when in his first season led Rangers to the league title after they last triumphed in 1984.