The Super Eagles pair of William Troost-Ekong and Brian Idowu will have to be cautious if they get to play for Nigeria against Argentina on Tuesday, as both defenders are facing suspensions from accumulated.
Though Idowu is in doubt for the game, having lost his spot as left-wing-back to Tyronne Ebuehi, Troost-Ekong is sure to be in the line-up, but another yellow card would see him miss the round of 16 fixture should Nigeria qualify.
This was gained from FIFA disciplinary information that rolled out on Monday, in which it was gathered that Troost-Ekong and Idowu are on the list of 19 players who risk missing their respective teams’ next games if they progress.
The duo belong to the group of five players who will more than the rest playing 17 be very wary of being booked during Nigeria’s decisive final group game versus Argentina.
Troost-Ekong is a likely starter in the game, while Idowu may be confined to the bench depending on the preferences of team coach Gernot Rohr.
The coach had removed him for Ebuehi after the break in Nigeria’s second group match versus Iceland on Friday in Volgograd.
Troost-Ekong was booked in the Nigeria versus Croatia match of June 16, while Idowu was booked in the Nigeria versus Iceland match played on Friday.
The three other affected players in the Nigeria’s last group match are Gabriel Mercado, Marcos Acuna and Nicolas Otamendi, all members of the Argentina team.
The five players, who should by now be aware of their disciplinary record situation, are going to miss the Eagles’ next match if they get booked by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir.
Missing the next match, though, would depend on if their respective teams qualify for the next round.
The rest 14 on the list of those likely to miss the next match if booked on Tuesday are from Australia (three), Croatia (six), Denmark (two) and France (three).
Already, Denmark’s Yussuf Poulsen has been suspended from the France match, having received yellow cards in both his team’s games against Peru and Australia.
France take on Denmark while Australia face Peru, both in Group C matches on Tuesday, while Croatia meet Iceland in Group D’s other match.
All the players are those who had been booked in either their respective teams’ first match or the second match.
