AYC: Genk Holds Onto F’Eagles Defender

Nigeria has been dealt
another blow ahead of next month’s African Youth Championship after Belgian club Genk refused to release star defender Wilfred Ndidi for the tournament.
Genk held a special meeting on Wednesday and decided  that highly-rated central defender Ndidi will not be released to the Flying Eagles for the AYC in Senegal, which starts on March 8 in Dakar, on account of club commitments.
Genk, who are within the bracket for the Belgian championship playoffs, have earlier made it clear they will need 18-year-old Ndidi for crucial league games on March 7 and March 15.
“It’s a big blow for the Flying Eagles because Ndidi is key to coach Manu Garba’s plans for the AYC. He is the team’s most experienced defender. The player too is very devastated,” a top source informed AfricanFootball.com
Manchester City first blocked Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali from the AYC, before Tottenham Hotspur teenager Musa Yahaya was ruled out of the tournament on account of a knee injury.