The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finally succumbed to pressure from the English Premier League side, Watford not to include forward, Emmanuel Dennis in the final Super Eagles 28-man squad for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 holding from January 9 through to February 6 in Cameroon.
Dennis, who has been in the best of form for Watford so far this season was initially listed in the 28-man squad but on Tuesday after guiding his struggling side to a 4-1 home defeat by West Ham, manager Claudio Ranieri expressed his opposition to the forward inclusion in the Nigerian team hinting of his plan to hold back the player despite world football governing body, FIFA directive that all invited players for the AFCON must be allowed to join their national teams least January 3, 2022.
Following Ranieri’s threat to keep his-form striker, who has scored eight EPL goals and five assists, the NFF on Wednesday vowed to drag Watford to FIFA for possible action. But yesterday the NFF through its’ Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire in a release sent to TNSports announced that Dennis has been excused from the AFCON bound Super Eagles squad due to pressure from his club and has been replaced with Czech Republic-based forward, Peter Olayinka.
Also dropped from the AFCON bound Super Eagles are Victor Osimhen, Cyprus –based Abdullahi Sheh,u and Scotland-based Leon Balogun.
Napoli’s Osimhe, who is still recuperating from facial and has tested positive for Covid-19 is expected to isolate for two weeks and In his place is Greece-based Henry Onyekuru who was also at the last finals in Egypt. Venezia of Italy defender, Tyrone Ebuehi has been recalled as Shehu’s replacement, while Ajayi is replacing Balogun, who is also recovering from injury.
