By James Jibril
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Friday confirmed that lively forward Victor Osimhen has been dropped from the Super Eagles squad for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations for medical reasons.
23-year old Osimhen reportedly tested positive to the rampaging coronavirus.
“Victor Osimhen has tested positive for Covid-19 but is asymptomatic,” Serie A team Napoli has said in a statement.
NFF has also confirmed that four new players were invited to join the Super Eagles for AFCON over the health concerns and injuries of some players.
The spokesperson of NFF, Ademola Olajire made this known while adding that only the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles remains unchanged.
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He gave the names of the new players invited to the AFCON to include right back Tyrone Ebuehi, England–based Oluwasemilogo, Greece-based Henry Onyekuru, and Czech Republic-based forward Peter Olayinka.
Olajire said, “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.”
