The Nigeria U23 team recently secured passage to the last round of the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by edging out Tanzania on a 3-1 aggregate score after winning the second leg 2-0 in Ibadan.
Ahead of the second leg game, coach of the Nigerian team Salisu Yusuf added more players to the squad, one of which is Arsenal midfielder Tim Akinola who is presently on loan to English fifth tier side Chesterfield.
Akinola spent three days in the camp of the team but departed on the eve of the game when he was told he won’t be a part of the squad for the game. He returned back to his base in England while the rest of his teammates battled to a 2-0 win.
His decision to leave the camp came in the midst of reports that backroom staff and coaches of the team are engaged in collecting bribes to pick players in the squad and even players who get to make it to the starting lineup.
” Tim will speak up soon. He would have opened up a lot earlier but some things are best said at some certain times and for now the time isn’t ideal but trust me he will tell you guys all that happened that led to his axing from the team. Was he asked to pay bribes? Wait for it”, his representatives told Owngoalnigeria.com.