FC Porto B-team midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali may miss out on joining the Olympic Eagles for next week’s Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, as he is battling to cement his place in the Portuguese top-flight club’s squad.
With feelers indicating that Porto are considering dropping Nwakali from their roster this summer, sports247.ng gathered that the Chile 2015 U-17 World Cup winning captain may opt to stay behind and play for his club this weekend against Cova Piedade, in a game that will come just three days before the Olympic Eagles battle Libya in Tunisia.
This comes hot on the heels of reports that Porto have already told Nwakali’s parent club, Arsenal of England, that they will not sign the youngster on a permanent deal at the end of his loan deal this summer.
Nwakali has failed to nail down a permanent spot in the starting line up of Porto’s B-team, despite having initially linked up with the Oporto club to join their main squad on a season long loan.
However, after 25 round of fixtures in the Portuguese second division, Nwakali has not been able to show top form that could help him make the expected progress to the first team and ignite a permanent contract.
With just 15 matches under his boots, in a total of 852 minutes, Nwakali’s overall impact has been deemed insufficient, such that Porto’s top brass have now decided against giving him a permanent deal.
Consequently, with the ignominy of returning empty handed to Arsenal in the summer and two years left on his contract with The Gunners, Nwakali is seeking opportunities to play himself into the heart of Porto’s officials.
That could now be the decisive factor that could make him stay back with the club and play their match on Sunday, rather than join the under-23 national team under the watch of Coach Imama Amapakabo.
