Kelechi Iheanacho
English
Premier League champions Manchester City have informed the Nigeria
Football Federation that they will not release Kelechi Iheanacho and
Chidiebere Nwakali for the 2015 African Youth Championship in March in
Senegal.
Both players were among nine foreign-based pros called up by the Flying Eagles for the AYC.
The players were given a Thursday deadline to join up with the country’s U20s in their training camp in Kaduna.
But in a mail signed by City scouting and
recruitment operations manager, Fergal Harkin, the EPL side said
Iheanacho was injured and may not be fit till mid-March, while Nwakali
is about to be loaned out to a club in Europe.
“With regards Kelechi Iheanacho, he is
currently injured. We believe he will be fit around the middle of March
but can keep in contract regarding his recovery,” read Tuesday’s mail to
the NFF in part.
“For Chidiebere Nwakali, we are currently
in the process of agreeing his loan deal to Europe and he will not be
available to meet up with the national team until further notice.
“At this moment in time, we feel it is best for his development that he cements his place in the club side.”
Under FIFA rules, Man City are not obliged to release the players as the competition is an age-grade event.
Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles will take on
Nigeria National League side Spotlight of Katsina in another test game
on Wednesday. The match will be played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in
Kaduna with the kick-off fixed for 11am.
Spotlight, who have defender Mustapha
Abdullahi with the Nigeria U20 side, are gearing up for promotion to the
Nigeria top flight in the forthcoming season.
The Katsina club, who placed 10th on the
Nigeria National League Division A table, have made several top signings
to match their ambitions.
Spotlight have been on a pre-season
training tour of Kaduna and have so far won three and drawn three of
their matches. Their own loss thus far was to Jamba Aacdemy, who beat
them 2-1.
The Flying Eagles, who are getting set
for the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal in March, are also
likely to battle league champions Kano Pillars by the weekend also in
Kaduna.
The Nigeria U20s are also billed to
feature in an expanded Super 4 tournament in Abuja, which will begin
next week. The other teams for the tourney are Nigeria U23 team,
Pillars, Enyimba, Dolphin and Warri Wolves.
The Nigerian clubs are preparing for CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup matches in February.
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