Iceland players pay tribute to Ikeme

Iceland players pay tribute to Ikeme

Iceland players pay tribute to Ikeme

ICELAND national team have shown their support for Nigerian goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who is battling acute Leukaemia, reports The Sun of UK.

The Wolves keeper was given an honorary place as the Super Eagles’ ’24th man’ as he continues his fight with the illness.

Ikeme, 32, missed the whole of the 2017/18 season after being diagnosed with the blood cancer.

And his former teammate Jon Dadi Bodvarsson joined with Iceland teammates to send a message to Ikeme via social media.

Ahead of Iceland’s clash with Nigeria later this week, the Reading striker posted an image of members of the squad holding a team jersey with Ikeme’s name on the back.

He wrote on Twitter: “All of us in @footballiceland are with you @Carl_Ikeme”

Ikeme was unable to travel to Russia to be with the Nigerian team due to ongoing treatment.

The Super Eagles were drawn in Group D alongside alongside Bodvarsson’s Iceland, Argentina and Croatia.

Croatia currently top the group after beating Nigeria 2-0, while Iceland continued their stunning ascent in world football by holding Argentina to a draw.

Iceland take on Nigeria in the second game of the groups on Friday where Bodvarsson’s team can all but end the Super Eagles’ tournament.

Speaking in May, Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr said: “Until the last moment, there is a possibility of bringing in these players.

“Carl Ikeme will be our 24th player to the World Cup.”

Former West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie was named as Nigeria’s 24th man in 2002.