Iheanacho – Nigeria will have the full compliment of all her players playing in the English Premier League for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double header against Benin Republic and Lesotho later this month following the non-listing of Nigeria among the nations the United Kingdom government has marked as red list states whose nationals are either banned from entering the country or will quarantine for 10 days upon their return from overseas.
There has been apprehension over the status of Nigeria following pronouncements by several Premier League coaches that they will not release their players whose countries are among the 33 listed as red list nations for the international week later this month.
”If you have been in or through any of the countries listed below in the previous 10 days, you will be refused entry to the UK.
If you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK, you will be able to enter. You must quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days. You cannot use the Test to Release scheme, ‘the United Kingdom government wrote on their official website, www.gov.uk.
With Nigeria not among the listed nations, the quartet of Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Semi Ajayi and Ola Aina who all play in the Premier League are free to travel for the games as well as Super Eagles vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong who play in the Skybet Championship for Watford.
Nigeria’s final group game is coming against Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun stadium and this will save the players from a forced quarantine when they return to the United Kingdom because Lesotho is listed among the 33 red list nations by the United Kingdom government.