Sunshine Stars will be missing up to five key players when they face Enugu Rangers in an NPFL Match Day 34 game on Sunday.
Already, their hosts are denied the participation of three CHAN Eagles stars Osas Okoro, Orji Kalu and Ifeanyi George who are with the national team in Cotonou for Sunday’s African Nations Championship qualifier against Benin.
The visitors however have worries of their own. Alaba Adeniyi who scored one of the goals when Sunshine won the reverse fixture this season will miss the game as he serves the last of his two-game suspension while midfielder Dayo Ojo serves the second of his 3-match ban.
Sunshine Stars captain, Sunday Abe will also not be involved due to his one match suspension for accumulation of five yellow cards while striker Sikiru Alimi is unvailable for Duke Udi’s men.
Injured Beninoise defender, Rock Durand has also failed to make the trip to Enugu.
In place of the missing players, Udi has included the likes of Kehinde Adedipe, Ezekiel Boboye and Peter Iyanmu to bolster the team and despite the worries, he insists his approach will be the same.
“The game against Rangers will be taken like our previous games. We take every game as they come and we respect each team for who they are,” Udi told ACLSports
“We respect them, they are a big side but regardless (of the absences), we will still go there and give a fight.”
Sunshine Stars are 11th on the league table, two points clear of the relegation zone while champions Rangers are 15th with five games left in the league season.