Eguavoen to drop Ighalo from Nigeria’s 2021 AFCON squad
Interim coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Austin Eguavoen, has announced that Odion Ighalo will be dropped from Nigeria’s AFCON roster in 2021.
Ighalo was chosen to Eguavoen’s Super Eagles 28-man roster, but he has failed to arrive at the team’s camp, despite the fact that the AFCON kicks off in just four days.
After retiring following Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2019 AFCON, the ex-Manchester United forward has only recently returned to the team.
Ighalo, on the other hand, may not be able to play in his second consecutive AFCON since his club, Al-Shabab, has refused to release him for the tournament.
Although Eguavoen is hopeful that Ighalo will resolve his dispute with his club; the Super Eagles coach revealed that if he does not hear from the striker by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the former Watford forward will be replaced in the team.
With the deadline having gone, the head coach of the Super Eagles may have to dismiss Ighalo and bring in a replacement.
Eguavoen did not say who would replace Ighalo, but it is hopeful that Feyenoord forward, Cyriel Dessers is the most likely candidate.
The Super Eagles are currently in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital in their training camp for the AFCON tournament, but they are expected to leave for Cameroon on Wednesday, 5th January ahead of their opening game against Egypt on January 11.
