Eguavoen concedes that Ighalo not be participating in Nations Cup after he fails to join team mates

SUPER Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen has finally conceded that former Manchester United and Watford striker Odion Ighalo will not be available for the African Cup of Nations after he refused to join the team enroute to Cameroon yesterday.

Ighalo, 32, had been brought out of retirement by former manager Gernot Rohr and included in the squad for the 33rd African Cup of Nations due to start on Sunday. However, a war of words ensued between the Nigerian Football Federation and the striker's Saudi Arabian clubside Al-Shabab, over his release.

At one stage, it was believed the player went on strike to try and force his club to release him but alas, Al-Shabab refused to budge. Mr Eguavoen had even set aside the number nine jersey for Ighalo but after the player refused to show up in Abuja yesterday to join his colleagues as they headed for Cameroon, he has had to concede defeat.

Majid Al-Marzouki, Al-Shabab's director of professionalism, insisted that the club did not block Ighalo from joining the Super Eagles. However, Al-Shabab had said it would will not release their star player because the NFF sent his invitation letter late, outside the 15-day period specified by Fifa for sending players' call-up letters.

Ighalo has been in brilliant form for Al-Shabab since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, scoring 11 goals in the Saudi Pro League and the club were desperate to keep hold of their talisman by any means necessary. Mr Eguavoen is now facing a striker crisis with his top three targetmen Victor Osimhen, Ighalo and Paul Onuachu, not available for selection at the tournament.

Mr Al-Marzouki said: "We did not prevent the player from joining but his invitation letter did not reach us within the period specified by Fifa for receiving the players' call-up letters. The Fifa Player Status Regulations stipulates that the local federation must notify the player and his club in writing of his summon 15 days before the start of the tournament

"It is advised to send a copy to the local federation of the club as well, which did not happen, and accordingly, the coach told us that the player continues with us and will not join his team. There are no negotiations between us and the Nigerian federation and the player is committed to the decision, the situation is settled."

There are now indications that Mr Eguavoen may call up Feyenoord striker Cyriel Dessers as a last minute replacement for Ighalo. Dessers, 27, is currently in fine form, having scored 10 goals in 27 games across all competitions for Feyenoord this season.