French club Brest have announced Benin star Steve Mounie will not be released for the forthcoming AFCON qualifier against the Super Eagles in Porto-Novo due to the travel restrictions caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Brest sports director, Gregory Lorenzi, said he has informed the national team coaches of both Benin and Algeria that their players will not be released for AFCON qualifiers.
“I had the two coaches on the phone. I informed them that if the (Coronavirus) measures didn’t change by then, we will not be releasing Haris (Belkebla) (Algeria) and Steve (Mounie) (Benin),” Lorenzi disclosed.
“I also informed the players, who understand.”
Because of Covid-19, both players will have to isolate for several days on their return to Europe.
Also, Brest face FC Lorient on April 4 in Ligue 1, a crucial match for the team’s survival in the French top flight.
Benin coach Michel Dussuyer has had to shift his final squad announcement till Thursday because he cannot ascertain the foreign pros who can make it for a March 27 clash against Nigeria as well as a final AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone three days later.
Victory over Nigeria will qualify Benin to the AFCON in Cameroon.
