Izuchukwu Okosi
Super Eagles interim coach, Austin Eguavoen has given reason why striker Odion Ighalo may not be replaced in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations squad after his Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab refused to release him for the tournament.
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Ighalo’s club insists that the Nigeria Football Federation did not send letter of invitation within the period specified by FIFA for receiving players’ call-up letters.
Eguavoen stated that Nigeria will not be able to replace Ighalo in the Super Eagles’ squad for the AFCON because the rule guiding the replacement of players made it impossible for Nigeria to name a replacement for Ighalo.
The former Nigeria international however added that the striker is doing everything possible to join the team in Cameroon.
Eguavoen disclosed this while speaking with NFF media after their first training on in Garoua on Thursday, “CAF said a player can only be replaced based on injury and or on health ground. That’s the only reason holding us back.
“We know he’s okay health wise and can’t wish him bad because we want to replace him with another player.”
Eguavoen added that he thought of replacing the striker with either Nasarawa United striker, Silas Nwankwo or Amoo Akinkunmi.
He continued, “Either the boy from Nasarawa United, Silas Nwankwo or Amoo Akinkunmi would have replaced him. Silas a good striker no doubt but Amoo is not a striker. Odion is doing everything to join us here and the federation is also doing everything to get him to the camp.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had confirmed on Thursday that striker Odion Ighalo will not be available for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon because his club Al Shabab refuse to release him.
According to FIFA regulations, countries must inform clubs of call-ups 15 days before the start of a tournament.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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