Nigeria will be without striker Odion Ighalo at the Africa Cup of Nations after his Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab refused to release him for the tournament in Cameroon, which starts on Sunday.

The 32-year-old, top scorer at the last Nations Cup in 2019, was initially given a deadline of Tuesday to confirm his availability by interim Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen.

However, Ighalo was not part of the squad that landed in Garoua late on Wednesday and a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation said he "is no longer expected as a result of issues with his Saudi Arabian club".

Al Shabab objected to their top scorer's involvement and reiterated that NFF missed the official deadline to call up the player.

The Riyad club official Majid Al-Marzouki told Al Arabiya's In the Goal TV program that Ighalo's letter of invitation did not reach the club within the period specified by world governing body Fifa for receiving players' call-up letters.

"The Fifa Player Status Regulations stipulates that the federation must notify the player and his club in writing of his summons 15 days before the start of the tournament, and it is advised to send a copy to the local federation of the club as well, which did not happen," Al-Marzouki said.

"Accordingly the coach [Pericles Chamusca] told us that the player will stay with us and will not join the Nigerian team.

"There are no negotiations between us and the Nigerian federation, and the player is committed to the decision. The situation is settled."

Nigeria team officials have informed BBC Sport Africa that they might not be able to call up a replacement.

Article 72.2 of the Confederation of African Football's tournament regulations state: "A player on the final list cannot be replaced unless seriously injured at the latest 24 hours at least before the beginning of the first match of his team."

Recalled from international retirement in November by former coach Gernot Rohr, Ighalo's 16 international goals rank the former Watford and Manchester United man among the country's top six scorers.

Nigeria were hoping Ighalo, currently the leading goalscorer in the Saudi Pro League season with 11 goals for Al Shabab, could reproduce his club form at the continental showpiece football event.

Attacking problems mount for Super Eagles

This is the latest club versus country row involving Nigeria, following last month's decision by Premier League club Watford to prevent their top scorer Emmanuel Dennis from playing in Cameroon, claiming the NFF missed the deadline to request his release.

Nigeria suggested Watford were "baring fangs" over the issues and the player has since been replaced.

The Super Eagles are also without Victor Osimhen, their top scorer in qualifying, after the Napoli man was ruled out following a positive Covid-19 test and is still recovering from facial fractures.

Genk's Paul Onuachu, who has netted 12 league goals this season, will also miss the tournament through injury.

Europe-based Jamilu Collins and Tyronne Ebuehi, who did not travel from Abuja to Garoua, are expected to link up with the rest of the squad in Cameroon ahead of the opening game against Egypt on Tuesday, 11 January.

The three-time African champions, who have appointed Portuguese Jose Peseiro as their permanent coach, are in Group D along with the Pharaohs, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan.

SOURCE


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I think Cyriel dessers is set to replace him(the Belgian born Nigerian)

Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed the Afcon 2019 top scorer will be out of Cameroon 2021
Article continues below
Odion Ighalo has been ruled out of Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Cameroon, Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed.
In a statement released by the football ruling body, the former Manchester United striker will play no part at the 33rd edition of the African football showpiece.
“Forward Odion Ighalo is no longer expected as a result of issues with his Saudi Arabian club,” part of the statement read.
With Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Genk’s Paul Onuachu already ruled out of the competition, Ighalo was expected to lead the Super Eagles charge for goals.
Nonetheless, that will not become a reality but no replacement has been announced.
GOAL gathered Ighalo was not released by his Saudi Arabia club Al Shabab owing to contractual reasons.
Before joining the White Lion from Shanghai Shenhua in 2021, the 2019 Afcon top scorer signed a clause that he would not be involved in international duties.
Prior to that move, Ighalo had announced his retirement from the Nigeria national team, however, he was recalled by Gernot Rohr as the German moved to solve the Super Eagles’ worrisome attacking line.
In the same vein, Tyronne Ebuehi and Germany based Jamilu Collins are expected to join the Nigeria national team in Garoua having been given special consideration by the NFF.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles who were flown into Garoua aboard an Air Peace jet, will lodge inside Hotel Ribadou.
Zoned in Group D alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau, Eguavoen’s men will begin on January 11 against the Pharaohs at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
Four days later, they will try the Falcons of Jediane for size before squaring up against the Djurtus on January 19 in Garoua.
Full Squad for Afcon 2021
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Article continues below
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa).
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow 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); 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 (Slavia Prague).

Chai.. I still wish the eagles well

but its not a big loss

Level one Fiverr account for sale. Let me know if interested

Who cares

Do clubs have that much power to or not to release players for their continental championship?

Just like everything else under Buhari. Propaganda, lies and more lies. Some idiots were arguing that he was already at the camp

Enoch3721:
I think Cyriel dessers is set to replace him(the Belgian born Nigerian)

Exactly

Enoch3721...CAF has blocked a replacement for Ighalo.

Ha

Rexnegro:
Do clubs have that much power to or not to release players for their continental championship?

When he signed with the club, he informed them he had retired from the National Team and will not be playing for the Super Eagles.

Ok

Alshabab kwa

We don hear na..how many times

They have a point of truly they didn’t get the call up as at when due. You think everyone does things so shabbily they way it is done in Nigeria Abi?

Make Baba rest abeg,him don try.but dis na see finish

Na wa o!

Amazing!
Make dem sub am for bubu

Will his presence contribute Any thing meaningful? They should stop over flogging this issue biko

Finally

Who wan use am b4?
Make e dy there

Has anyone noticed that everyone is just disrespecting Nigerians since buhari took charge

Even small club sef no wan release player to Nigeria

fergie001:

When he signed with the club, he informed them he had retired from the National Team and will not be playing for the Super Eagles.

Okay now I know better , thanks for the update bro , I appreciate that

fergie001:

Exactly

but I haven't seen him play, dis wan way d call late so d guy go show?

Issokay!!!