Covid Knocks Osimhen Out Of Afcon, NFF Scuttle Emmanuel Dennis’s Dreams

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will play at the Africa Cup of Nations without two of their best legs.

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, Megasportsarena.com reports.

Osimhen’s absence paves way for Greece-based Henry Onyekuru who was also at the last finals in Egypt while Tyrone Ebuehi takes the place of Abdullahi.

Nigeria’s rave in the English Premier League, Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis has also been dropped from the Afcon party after talks between the Nigeria Football Federation and Watford fell flat.

Megasportsarena.com understands that it may not be unconnected with Watford’s insistence that the player’s invitation for the tournament came too late, reason the most improved Nigerian player anywhere in the world won’t be playing in the Afcon.

A dispute over the timing of his call-up led the Hornets to believe they were able to prevent him from going to Cameroon.

The Hornets manager, Claudio Ranieri had said that Dennis will not be released because, ‘the email (for his invitation) didn’t arrive at the right moment. The national team has a time to send a pre-call. They didn’t respect the days,and i want to see.’

Emmanuel Dennis has now been excused to provide room for Czech Republic –based forward Peter Olayinka.

The goalkeeping department is however untouched, but the forced exclusion of Cyprus –based Shehu, who can slot easily into sections of the defence and midfield, has made way for 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.

The 33rd Africa Cup of Nations finals will end on 6th February.

SUPER EAGLES’ SQUAD FOR 33RD AFCON CAMEROON 2021

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Tyrone Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Praha, Czech Republic)