Izuchukwu Okosi
Super Eagles duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho will report to the national team camp ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after their Premier League games against Manchester City, Liverpool and New Year’s fixture with bottom side, Norwich City.
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Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of their Boxing Day clash against league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad stadium.
The ‘Super Sunday’ match will kick off 4pm Nigerian time.
Daniel Amartey and Papy Mendy have been named in the Ghana and Senegal squads for the Africa Cup of Nations respectively and it is expected that Ndidi and Iheanacho, possibly Ademola Lookman, will be in Nigeria’s party to Cameroon.
Asked how long he will have the five for, Rodgers said:
“I believe up until early January, I think it’s til about the third, so they’ll be around for that time.
”That means, if fit, they will be able to play in both the games against Manchester City and Liverpool in the festive double header, and the New Year’s Day meeting with Norwich.
The tournament begins on January 9 in Cameroon, and ends on February 6.
All of the City players involved are expected to go far, with the three countries they represent among the top-five favourites to lift the title, which is currently held by Algeria, who, captained by Riyad Mahrez, claimed the trophy in 2019.
If City players go all the way, they will miss the FA Cup third round tie with Watford, and the fourth round if Rodgers’ side progress, as well as Premier League games against Burnley and Brighton.
Depending on when they return, they may also be absent for the trip to Liverpool on February 10.
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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