Coach of English Premier League side Watford Claudio Ranieri says top scorer Emmanuel Dennis might not represent Nigeria at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations starting in January.
Dennis took his goal count for the season to eight goals and five assists with is goal yesterday as they slump to a 1-4 loss to West Ham United to further compound their woes in their fight against relegation from the English Premier League.
Ranieri was asked after the game if the impending departure of Dennis to the AFCON will make their bid to stay up more difficult as he is in the Super Eagles 28 man list for the tournament. It could see him miss as many as six games if Nigeria go all the way to the final.
The Italian coach responded by faulting the timing of the invitation and also stated that he isn’t sure the 24 year old will represent Nigeria at the tournament urging all interested to wait a bit.
“I’m not so sure I will miss Dennis now. I don’t know if he goes to the national team. We have to wait. We have to wait,” Ranieri was quoted in Watford Observer.
And asked to expand on the Dennis situation:“Look, I know, it did not arrived at the right moment, we have to wait very well. The national team has time to send the pre-calls [call ups], they don’t respect the days and I want to see very well.”
The camp of the Nigerian team opens on Wednesday with Dennis expected to join up after the new year like most players playing in the English Premier League.
