West Brom Finds Replacement For Super Eagles Defender Ahead 2023 AFCON Duty

West Brom Finds Replacement For Super Eagles Defender Ahead 2023 AFCON Duty

Ibrahim Lateef 

As 24 African countries countdown to the biggest soccer fiesta in the continent in Ivory Coast, there won't be a club versus country row between West Brom and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as the Championship club has identified an option that will stand in for Sami Ajayi, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Albion boss Carlos Corberan believes Caleb Taylor's moment will arrive during the African Cup of Nations in Janaury with defender Semi Ajayi, barring injury, a strong candidate to head to the African showpiece tournament with Nigeria.

Academy graduate centre-back Taylor, 20, has only played in the EFL Cup this season as Albion bowed out at the first hurdle at Stoke on a difficult evening for a much-changed side.

The Hawthorns head coach admitted one of the reasons for keeping Taylor on site as opposed to another loan spell was to cover the Nigerian, who is 30 next month, as he jets off to Ivory Coast.

"One of the reasons Caleb is here is exactly for this, I want to make him ready," said Corberan.

"We know that Ajayi, if as normal, will go with the national team in January. He's been an important player for Nigeria so he will have possibilities.

"In football we cannot think about January, we are in October, but I want to have the players ready, with the ideas, with the training, everything."

The major tournament begins on January 13 and Nigeria play their first match the following day. The final is February 11, meaning Ajayi could miss up to five Albion fixtures.

Ajayi featured for his nation, winning a 26 and 27th cap, in a friendly against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

Taylor flourished on a fine loan spell in League One at Cheltenham Town last season, with whom he made 49 appearances and won the Robins' young player of the season.

"Caleb is here so that when the moment arrives he is ready," the head coach continues. "That can be with Ajayi here or without him because he is with Nigeria, we can not know yet.

"He could be here because of injury, or bad performances...or excellent performances from him (means he goes).

"I think right now we have a very good squad, without the positions of the striker, but we can always find solutions in the team."

Albion are not especially short of central defensive options. Ajayi was in the side this season prior to injury but Cedric Kipre, Kyle Bartley and Erik Pieters have also been regulars.