Manchester City FC has informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that it is not willing to release Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali for the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) scheduled for March in Senegal.
Both players were among the nine foreign-based pros called up by the Flying Eagles for the AYC.
They were given a Thursday, January 15 deadline to join up with the country’s Under-20 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 is 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 contact regarding his recovery,” read yesterday’s mail 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,” read the statement from Etihad.
