The Italy-based trio of Victor Osimhen, Ola Aina and Tyronne Ebuehi remain in doubt for appearances in the Super Eagles’ camp at the start of next week, s COVID-19 restrictions in the European peninsula nation could keep them away.
Megasportsarena.com reports that Italy recently announced new restrictions to curtail further spread of the delta variant of coronavirus, thereby leaving clubs in the Italian Serie A declaring that they will not release their players for national team matches.
This proviso if bound to affect Napoli’s Osimhen, Aina of Torino and Ebuehi of Venzeia, with all three now part of a total pack of 13 stars that may not honour their invitations for the upcoming matches against Liberia in Lagos and Cape Verde away.
However, in anticipation of the cloud of doubt having over at least 13 regulars in his squad, Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr on Thursday named a roster of 30 players for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
Clubs from three major leagues in Europe have already decided not to release their players for matches to be played in red-listed countries and, with Cape Verde cited among countries facing fresh COVID-19 scares, players from European nations would surely be stopped from attending any game there.
The scenario was befuddled further when the Serie A officially backed clubs in the league, including Torino and Napoli, that they do not have to release their players for next month’s World Cup qualifiers in red-listed countries.
This in contrast with an appeal by FIFA president, Gianni Infantino for governments and clubs to allow players honour their countries’ invitations, while Confederation of African Football (CAF), whose member associations are hard hit by the stand of European leagues, also asked for a soft landing.
Consequently, all Italy-based players, as well as those in England and Scotland, are now in doubt for the double-head qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde, after the English Premier League, Spanish LaLiga and Italian Serie A disclosed that they will not release their lads.
Should those players be allowed to honour Nigeria’s invitation, it would mean having to stay in quarantine for at least 10 days on their return to base, which means Rohr with have an under-strength team for the impending matches.
Mostly affected would be the second game on September 7 in Cape Verde, as the West African island nation is on the UK’s coronavirus red list, such that Rohr could end up being without as many as 13 players for the match in Priai.
