•Milan, NFF reach agreement
By Rasaq Oboirien
Samuel Chukwueze will report late arrival at the Super Eagles Abu Dhabi pre-2023 AFCON camp, after his club AC Milan and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) reached an agreement to have him stay a few extra days in Italy.
With the Super Eagles camp officially opened as from today, Chukwueze who made Jose Peseiro’s 25-man AFCON list is now expected to feature in Milan’s next match in the Coppa Italia against Cagliari on January 2nd.
Recalled, Chukwueze was an unused substitute in Milan’s lone goal win over Sassuolo in the last Serie A fixture for 2023 played at the San Siro on Saturday.
The Rossoneri would have had their squad altered slightly in the New Year with the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in the Ivory Coast, which would have seen the Nigerian and his Algerian teammate Ismael Bennacer depart Italy.
Stefano Pioli opted to have both Bennacer and Chukwueze available for that match against Cagliari before they head to their respective pre- 2023 AFCON camps but the Algerian FA rejected the request of Milan, which meant Bennacer will not be available for the game.
The story was different for Chukwueze as he is going to be available for Milan until January 3rd, meaning he is almost certainly going to feature against Cagliari. That would allow Pioli to rest Christian Pulisic or Rafael Leao on either wing.
Meanwhile, Chukwueze is expected to link up with his teammates at the one-week training camp in Abu Dhabi on January 4th, and fly back to Lagos on Tuesday January 9 with the Super Eagles, before jetting into the Ivorian capital, Abidjan on Wednesday, January 10.
The Super Eagles, in their quest for a fourth continental title, will take on Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 14 in their first match of Group A, before further clashes with host nation Cote d’Ivoire (January 18) and Guinea Bissau (January 22).