The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday said two of the foreign based players wanted for the African Youth Championship would not be available.
They are Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali of English Premier League champions, Manchester City.
In a statement by the Flying Eagles Media Officer, Sam Audu, the national Under 20 team said the English team has sent words to the NFF on the matter.
“The club said they would not release Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali for the 2015 AYC in March in Senegal,” the statement said.
Both players were among nine foreign-based players called up by the Flying Eagles for the AYC.
They were given a Thursday deadline to join up with the Flying Eagles in their training camp in Kaduna.
But in a mail signed by City’s scouting and recruitment operations manager, Fergal Harkin, the EPL side said Iheanacho was injured and might not be fit till mid-March.
The mail also indicated that Nwakali was about to be loaned out to a club in Europe.
Harkin said: “With regards to Iheanacho, he is currently injured. We believe he will be fit around the middle of March but can keep in contract regarding his recovery.
“As for 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 clubside.”
