FC Lorient midfielder Innocent Bonke has been drafted as a late replacement for injured Wilfred Ndidi on the Super Eagles squad to face Ghana in crucial World Cup playoffs.
Officials said Ndidi has been ruled out of the playoffs after he suffered a knee injury in action for Premier League club Leicester City.
Bonke, 26, was capped by the Eagles last year in Cape Verde but was not on the provisional squad for the playoffs.
He is an experienced defensive midfielder, who last season featured in the UEFA Champions League with Swedish champions Malmo.
Meanwhile, Bonke’s call up has elicited varied responses following the announcement via the national team’s twitter handle @NG Super Eagles.
While some said his inclusion was justified following his impressive performance on his debut against Cape Verde, others claimed he is not good enough to fill the void following the absence of Ndidi.