Under-23 national team, Naija Eagles head coach, Samson Siasia has been hit with dampening news about the unavailability of SC Sfaxien of Tunisia striker, Junior Oluwafemi Ajayi for the side’s impending trip to South Korea for a four-nation competition.
The invitational tourney is meant to serve as a major preparation point for Siasia ahead of this summer’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the gaffer had been hoping on having as many as six foreign-based players for the outing in Asia.
However, reports out of North Africa indicate that Ajayi will not among Sia1’s wards in Korea, according to Tunisian intermediary, Mahmoud Ouaddeni.
Ouaddeni, who handles the striker’s affairs and is close to Sfaxien, has confirmed that the former 36 Lion FC of Lagos and Shooting Stars of Ibadan star will not be released by his club.
With six rounds left to play in the Tunisian league, Ouaddeni stressed that the earliest time Ajayi will be released is June 12, but added that his participation at the Olympic Games is not questionable.
“CS Sfaxien will only release Junior Ajayi to the national team after the last game, too bad that is June. I have asked the club and they have confirmed they will release him for the Olympic Games in August”
Similarly, Ajayi, Sfaxien’s joint-top scorer with eight goals from 22 games, also cast further doubt on his availability for Naija Eagles by revealing that his club have not approved his trip to Korea.
This is mostly because Sfaxien insist they need Ajayi for their last three fixtures in the top-flight, as the second-placed side face Club Africain on May 31, Zarzis on June 7 and Kasserine on June 11.
“We have a match against Etoile du Sahel. After the match I will confirm from the club, I don’t know yet if I’ll be released,” Ajayi told allnigeriasoccer.com on Tuesday.
