AFCON: Osimhen, Dennis, Balogun out of Super Eagles squad

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Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis have been forced out of the Super Eagles squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by different circumstances, according to the Nigeria Football Federation.

The tournament will be held in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February.

The two other players out of the tournament are Leon Balogun and Abdullahi Shehu.

Napoli striker Osimhen, who is Nigeria’s first-choice centre forward, is ruled out following a positive Covid-19 test.

The 22-year-old was already a doubt for the tournament as a result of surgery on his broken cheekbones before he was confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 on Thursday.

He has been replaced in the squad with Henry Onyekuru, the Olympiacos wide forward who was also in the 2019 squad in Egypt.

In Dennis’ case, Watford were threatening to withdraw him, claiming that his invitation from the Nigeria Football Federation arrived late, and he has now been excused.

The in-form forward, who has scored eight goals and made five assists in the Premier League this season, is replaced by Slavia Prague forward Peter Olayinka.

Cyprus-based defender-cum-midfielder Shehu is injured and his place will be taken by full-back Tyrone Ebuehi, who has impressed at Serie A side Venezia this season.

West Brom centre-back Semi Ajayi has been included in the final 28-man squad to replace injured Rangers star Balogun.

The Super Eagles begin their quest at the tournament on 11 January against Egypt before facing Guinea Bissau and Sudan in their other Group D fixtures in Garoua.

REVISED SUPER EAGLES’ SQUAD FOR 33RD AFCON CAMEROON 2021

GOALKEEPERS:

Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

DEFENDERS:

Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Tyrone Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)

MIDFIELDERS:

Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)

FORWARDS:

Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Praha, Czech Republic)

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