Rio Ave defender, Kelechi John has moved quickly to shoot down rumours in the local media that he was dropped from the Nigeria U-23 squad for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya due to match rustiness.
As exclusively reported by allnigeriasoccer.com on Saturday, the ex-Plateau United star was not in the Olympic Eagles traveling party to Tunisia because he was not issued a visa, but he’s still part of the team and remained in contention to make his Nigeria debut on March 25 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
‘’I was not dropped due to under-performance at training. They should carry out proper findings before going public,’’ said Kelechi John to allnigeriasoccer.com. ‘’As I earlier told you, I submitted my passport late, because, when I arrived Nigeria from my base I had to renew it.
‘’And saying I am not a regular for Rio Ave in the Liga Revelacao in Portugal, where I was recently nominated for Player of the Season Award is serious misinformation and dereliction of duty by the news outlet. I am still in camp.’’
The likes of Kelechi Nwakali, Taiwo Awoniyi, Azubuike Okechukwu, Kingsley Michael, Orji Okonkwo and David Okereke are among the foreign based professionals named to the Dream Team roster for the AFCON qualifiers against Libya.