Afcon 2023: Moffi doubtful as European clubs promise early release of Eagles players

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reached an agreement with the European clubs of Super Eagles players to release invited players on time for the final camping in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), ahead of the 2023 African Cup of Nations billed to hold from January 12 to February 11, 2024.

There were fears that some of the clubs were not disposed to allowing their stars to leave for training camps in the middle of their leagues, especially when the days do not fall under the FIFA open window.

But such fears have been dispelled by NFF’s Media Director, Ademola Olajire, who said that Nigerian players would be released by the clubs on time for the camp, which opens on January 2.

Olajire said the NFF was still expecting Coach Jose Peseiro to send his final list of players for the competition, to communicate such to the various clubs. He said: “The Super Eagles’ list is not yet out. I don’t know when, but the players will be released as of January 1.”

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), at the weekend, announced that all the 24 nations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament have submitted their provisional squads, as directed by the football body.

According to the tournament’s regulations, each member association that qualified for the final tournament are to submit a provisional list of not more than 55 players not later than December 14, 2023.

CAF said the final squads for the tournament will comprise 27 players, up from the 23 in previous events. However, the registration of the four additional players on the final list is only an option and not an obligation.

The deadline for the submission of the final squads for the tournament is January 3, 2023, exactly 10 days to the opening match.

Meanwhile, Terem Moffi has emerged as an injury doubt for Afcon after the OGC Nice striker suffered a hamstring injury ahead of the club’s Ligue 1 fixture against Le Havre on Saturday.

The French club announced on their X handle that the Super Eagles striker was not included in the match-day squad after he suffered the injury hours before their game.

The 24-year-old has been in fine form for Nice so far this season and has featured in all the club’s 15 league games before Saturday’s game against Le Havre.

Moffi has been an important figure for the Eaglets this campaign and has six goal contributions (four goals and two assists) in 15 appearances.

Having appeared in all the club’s games in the 2023/24 season, the former Lorient forward was on course for his 16th start of the season before picking up the injury that ruled him out of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat – their second of the season – to Le Havre.

While Nice are yet to state the extent of the striker’s injury, it is very unlikely that he will resume camp with the squad which put his AFCON spot in jeopardy.

This news will, however, come as a major blow to Jose Peseiro, who is already without Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi for the Afcon after the striker picked up a groin injury during the Eagles friendly game against Saudi Arabia in Portugal in October.