Chelsea Block Talented Winger From Joining Nigeria Squad Ahead Of U17 World Cup

Published: August 14, 2019

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Adrian Akande will not be linking up with the Golden Eaglets squad at their get-together in Abuja ahead of the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup.

It is confirmed that the Europa League holders have received an invitation letter from the Nigeria Football Federation in which they asked the Premier League club to release the player.

Chelsea are not obligated to release Akande to the Nigerian Federation as the Golden Eaglets training camp is not on the FIFA calendar for international activities and the player has not been permitted to fly to Abuja.

The 2019-2020 season has now started and the former Crystal Palace youth-teamer is a key player for Chelsea U16 team.

Akande was a member of the Golden Eaglets squad that finished fourth at the 2019 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, though he was a non-playing substitute in their five matches in Tanzania.

West Ham's Daniel Jinadu, Bournemouth's Joseph Oluwabusola and Eintracht Trier 05's Armin Olayo, who are all goalkeepers, have been invited to the Golden Eaglets training camp by the Nigerian Federation.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel