AFCON 2021: Missed Stars, Newcomers

Nigeria is missing Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis. Besides, Cyprus-based Abdullahi Shehu, and Scotland’s Rangers' Leon Balogun, were also ruled out of the country’s squad heading to the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.

Osimhen's withdrawal became inevitable after the 22-year-old, who recently declared himself fit, tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time in 2021 last December, according to a statement by his Italian side Napoli. The development has now forced the former Wolfsburg striker, who is also still recovering from a facial injury, to pull out from the continent showpiece.  

Injury also forced the withdrawals of defenders Balogun and Shehu, while in-form striker Dennis pulled out for administrative reasons, depleting the attack and defense of the three-time African champions. In the meantime, striking duo of Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos, Greece) and Czech Republic Slavia Praha's Peter Olayinka were named as replacements for Osimhen and Dennis respectively.

In the defense, Venezia's Tyrone Ebuehi and West Bromwich Albion's Oluwasemilogo Ajayi took the spots of Shehu and Balogun respectively. The quartet's withdrawals come as huge blow for the Super Eagles, who have been pitched in Group D with Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau.

On the other hand, Guinea Conakry brought in two reinforcements after the withdrawal Florentin Pogba (FC Sochaux, France) "victim of a right knee and ankle injury '' and Antoine Conté, who played for the French...