Nigeria may have to do without Odion Ighalo at this month’s Africa Cup of Nations, as his club Al Shabab have refused to allow him leave.
The Cable reports that an insider with the Nigeria Football Federation claims the Saudi Arabia Pro League side, have blocked the 32-year-old from linking up with his international teammates.
Ighalo, who was the highest goal scorer at the 2019 AFCON, was on the scoresheet for his club in their 4-3 win over Al-Ahli Saudi on Saturday.
The NFF is doing everything possible to ensure that Al Shabab allow Ighalo to join the three-time African champions on time for the African football showpiece.
“Because Ighalo is their highest goal scorer and he also scored in their game on Saturday, they do not want to release him,” the insider said.
“They do not want him to leave for the AFCON so that he can help them have a shot at winning the league this season.
“You know that he has netted 11 goals for them this season and they are second on the table with a hope of winning the league if they continue to win and Ighalo keeps scoring goals for them.”
Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis were replaced in the Super Eagles 28-man provisional list by Henry Onyekuru and Peter Olayinka respectively over controversial reasons.
