AFCON 2021 : Chukwueze's release to Nigerian Federation delayed until after January 3

Published: December 28, 2021

Samuel Chukwueze will be among the last batch of Nigerian players to report for international duty ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

According to reports in the Spanish media, including Marca, Villarreal will delay the release of the Super Eagles winger to the Nigeria Football Federation until after January 3, 2022.

Manager of the Yellow Submarine, Unai Emery will be able to count on Chukwueze, Aïssa Mandi (Algeria), Serge Aurier (Côte d’Ivoire) and Boulaye Dia (Senegal) for the La Liga clash against Levante on January 3.

The Nigeria Football Federation stated in a press release that non-Premier League players are scheduled to begin arriving the Super Eagles training camp on Wednesday, December 29.

However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overruled the decision of the NFF on Sunday, stating that players heading to the tournament in Cameroon will be allowed to play fixtures between December 27 and January 3.

Chukwueze will join Nigeria's training camp in Abuja immediately after the game against Levante and has been instructed to return to Villarreal once the Super Eagles are eliminated or at the end of the tournament depending on their progress.

The 2015 U17 World Cup winner has not played for the Super Eagles since March 30, 2021 when he lasted 86 minutes on the pitch in a 3-0 win over Lesotho.

Igho Kingsley

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