As first reported by SCORENigeria, Premier League clubs have stopped their players in the Super Eagles from visiting Cape Verde for next month’s World Cup qualifier because it is on the UK Red Listed countries in respect of the Covid-19 protocol.
Cape Verde’s red listing means any player who visits there will have to quarantine for 10 days in a government approved hotel on return to England.
Super Eagles players who are affected by this decision include Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), William Ekong, Oghenekaro Etebo, Emmanuel Dennis (Watford), Alex Iwobi (Everton) and Frank Onyeka (Brentford).
This could also be extended to the Scotland-based stars Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun.
This will be why the call-ups for the qualifiers against Cape Verde and Liberia have yet to be announced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
In a joint statement, the Premier League clubs said they have “reluctantly but unanimously” agreed not to release players for international matches played in red-list countries next month.
This decision is “strongly” supported by the Premier League and will affect about 60 players from 19 Premier League who are due to travel to 26 red-list countries in the September international window.
The clubs said the British Government will not grant any exemption.
They also said a 10-day quarantine will compromise the fitness and availability of the players in question.
Suggestions have already been advanced that Nigeria may likely announce an expanded squad so that the main squad including the Premier League stars face Liberia on September 3 in Lagos, before another set of players travel to Cape Verde for the next World Cup qualifier on September 7.
