Reigning English Premier League champions, Manchester City have announced Nigerian duo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidi Nwakali will be unavailable for the African Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal.
Both players were among the nine overseas players that had been called up to Nigeria’s U-20 male football team and were given till Thursday to report to the Flying Eagles training camp in Kaduna.
According to a statement issued by Flying Eagles’ Media Officer, Samm Audu, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has received a mail from the two-time English Premier League champions Manchester City, signed by City’s scouting and recruitment operations manager, Fergal Harkin on this.
“The club said they would not release Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali for the 2015 AYC in March in Senegal,’’ He said.
In the mail, the club cited an injury to Iheanacho and impending loan move for Nwakali as reasons for their unavailability.
“With regards to Iheanacho, he is currently injured. We believe he will be fit around the middle of March but can keep in contract regarding his recovery”.
“As for 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 clubside,” the club said in the mail.
Both players were instrumental in Golden Eaglets’ 2013 U-17 World Cup triumph in the United Arab Emirates, and have been an integral part of the Flying Eagles since then. The Flying Eagles coaches will be hoping their absence will not distort their preparations and/or performance in Senegal.
