Villarreal of Spain winger, Samuel Chukwueze has been named among five African players likely to beat off all odds in making the final rosters of their respective national teams for this year’s continental soccer showpiece. in Egypt.
Sports247.ng learnt that, despite being deployed to star for the under-23 national team last week, Chukwueze is named alongside Barcelona’s Kevin-Prince Boateng among players likely to gatecrash into squads for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Though Chukwueze fit aplomb into the Olympic Eagles’ squad for away and home fixtures against Libya in the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations second round qualifiers last week Wednesday and on Monday,
Incidentally, Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr declared at a press conference in Asaba that Chukwueze was only ‘loaned’ to the under-23 squad for their matches against Libya and remains part of his plans for AFCON 2019.
Consequently, a survey by goal.com has now cited the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup gold medalist to step back into the Eagles’ mainframe for AFCON 2019, thereby leaving behind his former cadet team colleagues – Kelechi Nwakali, Victor Osimhen and Orji Okonkwo – in the under-23s.
The citation for Chukwueze stated: “The wonderkid made his Nigeria debut in the 0-0 draw with Uganda in November, winning over some admirers with a bright showing.
“Chukwueze has dropped for Super Eagles squad ahead of this international break, with the national-team selectors instead preferring the youngster to be employed in U-23 action.
“However, he had returned to goalscoring form with Villarreal before the window—netting his third La Liga goal of the season, against Levante—and must now prove that he can unseat one of Gernot Rohr’s other widemen.”
