AFCON: Nigeria drops Osimhen, three others, invites four new players

By Emmanuel Adeleke

Nigeria Football Federation has disclosed that the Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, is out of the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The NFF’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, made this known on Friday, adding that only the goalkeeping department is unchanged.

According to Olajire, four new players have been invited to the Super Eagles for AFCON following the health issues and injuries to some players.

The newly added players include right back, Tyrone Ebuehi; England –based Oluwasemilogo Ajayi; Greece-based Henry Onyekuru; and Czech Republic-based forward, Peter Olayinka.

“Lively forward, Victor Osimhen’s positive test to the coronavirus pandemic a couple of days ago and injury to the versatile Abdullahi Shehu have constrained changes to Nigeria’s final 28-man list for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations starting in Cameroon next weekend.

“The goalkeeping department is untouched, but the forced exclusion of Cyprus–based Shehu, who can slot easily into sections of the defence and midfield has made way for hard-as-nails right back, Tyrone Ebuehi, now with Venezia in the Italian Serie A, and England-based Oluwasemilogo Ajayi returns to the group for Africa’s flagship football championship following injury to centre-back Leon Balogun. Ajayi can also play as a midfielder.

“Osimhen’s absence paves way for Greece-based Henry Onyekuru who was also at the last finals in Egypt. In-form rapid raider, Emmanuel Dennis, whose English Premiership club is baring fangs, has been excused to provide room for Czech Republic-based forward, Peter Olayinka,” Olajire said.