Arsenal midfielder dropped from Nigeria matchday squad v Tanzania, MLSer gets late invite

Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that Arsenal midfielder Tim Akinola will not make his competitive debut for the Nigerian national teams when the Olympic side face off with Tanzania in a 2023  Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Saturday, October 29.

It was earlier envisaged that the Nigeria Football Federation would provisionally cap-tie the Lokoja-born player against the Tanzanians but something has happened in the last few days that is not adding up.

Nigeria U23 boss Salisu Yusuf is playing spoil sport by omitting Akinola and several invited foreign-based players from the match day squad for tomorrow's encounter. 

The 21-year-old paid for the trip to Ibadan from London out of his own pocket and the money has not yet been refunded by the Nigeria Football Federation. 

Arsenal will be livid over the decision to axe Akinola from the matchday squad as academy manager Per Mertesacker had advised but not coerced him to remain at Chesterfield, where he is on loan until next summer. 

Arrangements are currently being made for Akinola to fly back to the United Kingdom tomorrow, Saturday. 

Meanwhile, Major League Soccer player Ibrahim Sunusi was handed a late call-up to join the Nigeria U23s and remains in contention to be dressed for the qualifier against Tanzania. 

The CF Montreal striker was ready to travel to Nigeria for his vacation following the conclusion of the MLS regular season when he received an invitation to report for international duty. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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