Omeruo Won't Honour Mandela

The Super Eagles' preparations for the Mandela Challenge have been dealt a big blow, following a relapse of the shoulder injury to Kenneth Omeruo which has ruled him out of the game.

The player who has been training with the Chelsea reserves hurt his shoulder on Tuesday and was told to rest for a week so as not to aggravate it. The defender had dislocated the shoulder during the Nations Cup which had sidelined him for a while.

This latest scare is a set back to Stephen Keshi's build up to the Mandela Challenge which he hopes to use as a dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Flames of Malawi in September. The coach may be forced to call up another player to replace the fast rising player.

The player's agent told Soccer Star that though the injury was not very serious, the club medics decided to take precaution so as not to worsen it. Only last week, the player had successfully undergone a medical test at Chelsea as a prelude to playing for the club next season.

He missed the team's pre season tour due to the delay in procuring an entry visa to the UK. His Chelsea future is expected to be decided by Coach Jose Mourinho when the team return from their pre-season tour.

Speculations have been on that the player may be given a new contract or loaned out to one of the Premiership clubs believed to be interested in his service. The Ado Haag player has been linked with a loan move to Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Norwich if Mourinho decides not  to keep him at Stamford Bridge.