AFCON 2022: Osimhen, Balogun, Shehu, Dennis Dropped From Super Eagles Squad

By Akinwale Kasali

With less than 10 days to the commencement of the 33rd Edition of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Interim Coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, has dropped recuperating Napoli Football Club of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen, from the 28-Man squad of the Nigeria National Team.

Osimhen was also said to have contacted COVID-19, forcing him to isolate himself from the Napoli team.

In form Watford Football Club of England forward, Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis, opted out of the Super Eagles team for the Continental showpiece to help his Club fight for survival from relegation in the Barclays English Premier League.

Following the inclusion of Dennis in the AFCON party, Watford Coach, Claudio Raineri and the Club had bared their fangs on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, lamenting that the invitation came late and that Dennis is an integral part of the Hornets team in the battle for relegation having scored 8 Goals and 10 assist in the league so far.

Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus right back, Abdullahi Shehu and Rangers Football Club of Scotland defender, Leon Balogun have, also, both pulled out of the tournament due to injuries.

Following the injury worries, COVID-19 issues and mutual agreement between the NFF and Watford Football Club on Dennis, Eguavoen has called up four players to replace the others.

Venezia Football of Italy defender, Tyrone Ebuehi have been called up to replace the injured Abdullahi Shehu, while West Bromwich Albion Football Club of England defender, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi to replace Leon Balogun.

Olympiakos of Greece winger, Henry Onyekuru is set replace Victor Osimhen with Slavia Prague Football Club of Czech Republic forward, Peter Olayinka replacing Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis.

The Super Eagles camp is opened at Bolton Apartment and Suites, Abuja, with Taiwo Awoniyi, Olisa Ndah and John Noble already in camp.

By 3rd of January, the likes of William Troost Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Nwakali, Samuel Chukwueze, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and others are expected to have hit the camp and jet out two days after to Garoua, Cameroon where it would play its first match against the Pharaohs of Egypt on January 11th, 2022.