CHAN 2024: Super Eagles Suffer Blow As Seven Players Ruled Out

CHAN 2024: Super Eagles Suffer Blow As Seven Players Ruled Out

Sampson Adedeji

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled to be hosted by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, have been hit by the withdrawal of seven players from the squad, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Five players Abubakar Sadiq (Plateau United), Philip Adejo (Abia Warriors), Saviour Isaac (Rangers), Papa Daniels Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes), and Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City) have been ruled ineligible after securing transfers to clubs outside Nigeria, thus violating the CHAN rule that permits only players active in their home domestic leagues.

According to team media officer Promise Efoghe, two additional players Rangers defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Sporting Lagos midfielder Ebenezer Harcourt will also miss the tournament.

Onyebuchi is sidelined with an injury and will not report to camp, while Harcourt is on national duty with the Flying Eagles at the WAFU B U-20 tournament in Ghana.

CHAN is a biennial tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) exclusively for players competing in their country's domestic leagues.

Despite the setback, the home-based Super Eagles camp in Ikenne now has 28 players following the arrival of Abia Warriors duo Anthony Ijeoma and Sunday Megwo.