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AFCON: I wanted to replace Ighalo with NPFL star or ex-Eaglet – Eguavoen

SUPER Eagles interim head coach Austin Eguavoen has revealed that he made an attempt to name another player in Odion Ighalo’s place in the squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ighalo has been held back by his Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab, who are exploiting a clause in his contract which prevents him from international football.

Eguavoen said he made moves to get one of two options to replace the 32-year-old striker but the Confederation of African Football blocked the attempt.

“We spoke and exchanged text messages, and from his response he is doing everything possible to come by,” Eguavoen told the Super Eagles media team in Garoua, Cameroon on Thursday.

“And I thought of replacing him, I gave a deadline. I tried to bring in either the boy from Nasarawa United Silas Nwankwo, who is a good player no doubt, a good striker, or Akinkunmi Amoo, he’s not a striker but he can play off strikers.”

However, Eguavoen explained that a CAF rule meant his attempts were not successful.

He added: “I thought of replacing Ighalo with any of them but what CAF is saying that changes can only be based on injuries or health reasons. Ighalo is in good health so we can’t make that change.”

Nwankwo was one of the emerging stars of the Nigeria Professional Football League last season, while Amoo was one of the outstanding players of the Nigeria Golden Eaglets squad to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2019.

The 19-year-old Amoo currently plays from Hammarby in the Swedish top flight.

He has made 48 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals and making six assists.

The Super Eagles left for Garoua from Abuja on Wednesday night with 25 players, with Tyrone Ebuehi and Jamilu Collins expected to join them before their opening match against Egypt on Monday.

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Naija Times