The Super Eagles have been forced to make an unwelcome change in their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria have dropped strikers Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis from their AFCON squad.
Replacing the pair in the national team’s 28-man squad are Sparta Prague striker Peter Olayinka and Olympiakos forward Henry Onyekuru.
Rangers defender Leon Balogun and Omonia Nicosia full-back Shehu Abdullahi, meanwhile, are also sidelined. West Brom’s Semi Ajayi and Venezia’s Tyronne Ebuehi have replaced them.
What happened to the four missing players?
A statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said they have released Dennis as his club, Watford, were ‘baring fangs’. The Hornets were upset by delay from the NFF to inform them of the striker’s call-up. They complained and had implied they wouldn’t release him for AFCON duty.
As for Osimhen, he is out following a positive COVID-19 test. The Napoli striker arrived in Nigeria last week, despite still recovering from surgery on the facial fractures he sustained in November. He is still in isolation and will now miss the entire tournament as a result.
Balogun and Abdullahi, on the other hand, have failed to recover in time from their injuries.
Nigeria’s 2021 AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes); Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia); William Ekong (Watford); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates).
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Rangers); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos); Moses Simon (FC Nantes); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh); Alex Iwobi (Everton); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague).
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