2021 AFCON Qualifiers : Paderborn Sporting Director Kicks Against Releasing Collins To NFF

Published: March 13, 2020

If Paderborn Sporting Director Martin Przondziono has his way, Super Eagles left-back Jamilu Collins will not be released to the Nigeria Football Federation for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone.

Collins is among seven Paderborn players called up for international duty this month, the others being Antwi-Adjei (Ghana), Mohamed Dräger (Tunisia), Laurent Jans (Luxembourg), Klaus Gjasula (Albania), Sebastian Vasiliadis (Greece) and Samuel Fridjonsson (Iceland).

It remains unclear if the international matches will go ahead as planned this month due to the coronavirus pandemic, with several global events already postponed as a precaution.

Przondziono cannot unilaterally prevent Collins from traveling to Africa except he suffers an injury while on club duty.

Speaking to regional daily newspaper, Neue Westfalische, Przondziono said : "Actually, you shouldn't send the boys on the trip."

Collins did not take part in Paderborn's training at the start of the week due to an ankle-related injury and it remains to be seen if the left-back has sufficiently recovered for Friday's Bundesliga game against Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Igho Kingsley