IK Start Midfielder Aremu Rules Himself Out Of U20 AFCON Third Place Playoff

Published: February 15, 2019

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that IK Start ace Afeez Aremu has ruled himself out of Saturday's 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations third place playoff between Nigeria and South Africa.

The central midfielder suffered a training ground injury two days before the Flying Eagles lost on penalties to Mali, and was not included in the line-up for the first time since the start of the tournament.

It is believed that Aremu will spend few weeks on the sidelines as a result of the toe injury, effectively ruling him out of tomorrow's game.

The fact that IK Start released him to the Nigerian Federation was a show of magnanimity as the tournament is outside the international window for national team activities, and missed the start of their training camp.

IK Start will face Brann, Haugesund, Jerv, Inter Turku, Bodø / Glimt and Strømsgodset in test games ahead of their first competitive match of the new season against Aalesund on March 30.

Aremu played 26 games in the Norwegian topflight last season, scoring three goals.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel