Liverpool-Owned Striker Ruled Out Of Nigeria U23s AFCON Opener Vs Ivory Coast

Published: November 06, 2019

Allnigeriasoccer.com has been informed that Taiwo Awoniyi will certainly miss Nigeria U23s Africa Cup of Nations opener against Ivory Coast on November 9.

Bundesliga club Mainz 05 will release the Liverpool-owned striker to the Nigeria Football Federation only after their matchday 11 fixture on Saturday.

The U23 Africa Cup of Nations is not listed on the FIFA calendar for international matches and it remains to be seen if Mainz will permit him to remain in Egypt should Nigeria qualify for the final of the competition.

Mainz's first match after the third international break of the season comes up on Sunday, November 24, two days after the final and third place match at the AFCON.

Awoniyi is one of the most experienced players in the Nigeria squad having featured in the last U23 AFCON held in Senegal, along with Azubuike Okechukwu, Sincere Seth and Ndifreke Udo.

The 22-year-old has been included in each of Mainz's matchday squads since his loan move to the club in the summer with the exception of the game against Schalke 04 on September 20.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel