Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, will no longer feature in Nigeria’s friendly games against Algeria and Tunisia over COVID-19 restrictions put in place by his Italian club, Napoli.
Nigeria is due to play Algeria and Tunisia in Austria on October 9 and 13 respectively.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced on Sunday via Twitter that Osimhem has been excused from the national team and replaced with Paul Onuachu.
Napoli announced on Saturday that COVID-19 tests were carried out on all their players, with only Macedonian midfielder Elif Elmas testing positive.
However, ASL local health authority decided it was unsafe for the Napoli squad to travel and has banned the team from travelling outside the region to Turin for their Serie A clash at the Allianz Stadium today (Sunday).
Napoli later announced that their players and staff were in isolation and would not travel for their international fixtures.
Meanwhile, team officials and backroom staff of the Eagles have departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday night for Austria, ahead of the games against their North African opponents.
21-year-old Osimhen joined Napoli in a reported £74m deal that made him the most-expensive African footballer in history.
Osimhen was announced as a Napoli player on Friday, July 31 after long-drawn-out negotiations between the player, the Serie A club and Lille.
He signed a five-year contract with the Serie A sides after his impressive season in France with Lille.
