Oliseh to miss Nigeria’s CHAN qualifier

Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh will miss this weekend’s African Nations Championship qualifier in Burkina Faso after he was forced to undergo treatment for an unspecified illness.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Oliseh, 46, has flown back to Belgium, where he lives, to see doctors after his illness worsened on Thursday.

“Coach Oliseh will not be available for the match (against Burkina Faso) on Sunday, we will miss him,” said team spokesman Toyin Ibitoye.

“But we have very competent coaches to carry on and deliver for Nigeria. We will get the job done in Ouagadougou.

“We believe he will recover in time for when the World Cup training camp opens in Abuja early next month.”

The NFF did not specify the nature of his illness.

Oliseh fell sick soon after two friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium earlier this month.

But he defied medical advice to return to Nigeria to prepare for the Super Eagles’ CHAN qualifier.

The match is the return fixture for a place at next year’s finals in Rwanda.

The CHAN is reserved for players based in their domestic leagues.

Last week, Nigeria beat Burkina Faso 2-0 in the southern city of Port Harcourt

Nigeria are also scheduled to take on Swaziland in a 2018 World Cup qualifier next month.

The knockout matches are scheduled for between November 9 and 17.