Abia Warriors’ Adekunle replaces Omeruo in Super Eagles squad

ANOTHER player has been stopped from travelling out of Europe for Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches billed for next week.

Spanish second-tier club Leganes have prevented Kenneth Omeruo from participating in the qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho, citing concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.

Omeruo is the second player from the Spanish second division to be withdrawn from the qualifiers after Almeria blocked Sadiq Umar from travelling down to Nigeria for his first senior cap.

Two Nigeria players in the French Ligue 1 will also not be able to feature in the matches. Samuel Kalu of Bordeaux withdrew due to an injury, but Nantes forward Moses Simon was not given permission by the club due to Covid-19 concerns.

Many European clubs are taking advantage of FIFA’s refusal to enforce clubs to release players for international engagements due to the virus that has been disrupting the world’s activities since early 2020.

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr is turning to the Nigeria Professional Football League to find replacements for his missing stars.

While Enyimba’s Anayo Iwuala has been drafted in to take Simon’s place, Adeleke Adekunle of Abia Warriors will replace Omeruo.

The Super Eagles play Benin Republic in Porto Novo on 27 March and Lesotho three days later in Lagos.