Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has revealed that Villarreal attempted to block their player Samuel Chukwueze from liking up with the Nigeria squad this week.
The 2015 U17 World Cup winner is in contention to face the Squirrels on Saturday, having reported for international duty on Tuesday morning.
Rohr won't be able to count on the services of two other Spanish-based players named on the original 24-man roster namely Almeria's Umar Sadiq and Leganes' Kenneth Omeruo as the Segunda Division clubs refused to release them to the Nigeria Football Federation due to COVID-19 concerns.
The former Bayern Munich defender rued the absence of Nantes' Moses Simon, Bordeaux's Samuel Kalu and Lorient's Terem Moffi who have been blocked by their French clubs from traveling to Africa due to coronavirus restrictions.
Speaking to SuperSport, Rohr explained : "Some of our players could not come because of restrictions, especially the players playing in France, they are not allowed to come so we are missing our three players from the list from France.
"We have to replace them so I found some local players to replace these people, we will have Iwuala who will come in, winger from Enyimba, also we have Adeleke the defender from Abia Warriors.
"They didn't want Chukwueze to come like Omeruo and Spanish players have problems."
"We have to replace them so I found some local players to replace these people, we will have Iwuala who will come in, winger from Enyimba, also we have Adeleke the defender from Abia Warriors.
"They didn't want Chukwueze to come like Omeruo and Spanish players have problems."
Chukwueze has been on the key players for the Super Eagles in AFCON qualifying, scoring two goals against Lesotho and Sierra Leone.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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