Serie A giants AC Milan are holding discussions with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the early availability of Samuel Chukwueze for Super Eagles camping ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Chukwueze and other Nigerian Super Eagles players are expected to arrive Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) camp by January 1, 2024.
The 34th edition of the AFCON will be hosted in Côte d’Ivoire from Saturday, January 13 to Sunday, February 11 2024.
Nigeria, three-time AFCON winners, will play their first game against Equatorial Guinea on January 14.
The Super Eagles are in Group A with Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
On paper, Nigeria are top favourites for the AFCON trophy thanks to the arrays of attacking talents like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze will Nigerians will count on.
However, Peppe Di Stefano on Sky (via Radio Rossonera) reports that Chukwueze might not resume camp for Nigeria early as he will be in action for Milan’s game against Sassuolo on Saturday, December 30th.
The Nigerian player is expected to leave for the Super Eagles camp in UAE in preparation for the AFCON.
However, Di Stefano revealed that Milan has opened dialogues with the NFF to convince them to allow Chukwueze to leave Italy on January 3rd.
Milan will hope the forward to be available for the Coppa Italia round of 16 clash with Cagliari.
It is left to be seen if the NFF will allow Chukwueze hit camp in a latter date.
The former Villarreal star fatured at the Egypt 2019 and Cameroon 2022 AFCON tournaments.
