The duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali might not be in the Flying Eagles squad for the 2015 African Youth Championship holding in Senegal in March.
The English Premier League champions, Manchester City made this known on Tuesday.
The Scouting and Recruitment Operations Manager at Manchester City FC, Fergal Harkin, in a mail to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, stated that the club would not be willing to release the players for different reasons.
Harkin stated that Iheanacho was injured while a loan move was being processed for Nwakali.
Part of the mail read, “With regards Kelechi Iheanacho, he is currently injured. We believe he will be fit around the middle of March but can keep in contract regarding his recovery.
“For Chidiebere Nwakali, we are currently in the process of agreeing his loan deal to Europe and he will not be available to meet up with the national team until further notice.
“At this moment in time, we feel it is best for his development that he cements his place in the club side.”
Kelechi Iheanacho won the Golden Ball at the 2013 U-17 World Cup and was one of the revelations of Manchester City’s summer pre-season after impressing and scoring against AC Milan.
The attacking midfielder has already been tipped as a future Super Eagles star despite his young age.
All overseas based players invited for the AYC tournament had been given till Thursday, January 15 to report at the U20s training camp in Kaduna.
