Chelsea Stop Two Nigerian Defenders From Facing Club In FA Cup Fifth Round

Published: January 30, 2018

Hull City have been paired with Premier League champions Chelsea in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup next month.

The Tigers manager Nigel Adkins will not be able to call on two young Nigerian defenders in the shape of Ola Aina and Fikayo Tomori for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

The rule of the thumb in England is that there's a clause that stipulates that loanees are not allowed to play against their parent clubs.

It was the same scenario that prevented Chuba Akpom from facing Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup in February and March 2016, despite the in-form striker netting a hat-trick for Hull City against Bury in the fourth round.

Aina has taken advantage of the opportunities of his loan move to Hull City, with 28 starts to his name from a possible 31 in all competitions.

The Super Eagles left-back netted his maiden senior goal as the Tigers beat Blackburn Rovers in the third round of the FA Cup.

England U20 World Cup-winning defender Tomori has made one appearance in the FA Cup this season, and was on the bench last weekend against Nottingham Forest.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel