Watford vs. Africa: Hornets refuse to release two players for AFCON, national team furious

Ismaila Sarr is a regular for the Senegal national team and thanks to his great form this year, Emmanuel Dennis has earned an invitation to the Nigeria national team after a long time. However, neither of them will probably end up in Cameroon, where this year’s AFCON is being held, which is very unpleasant for their national teams.

That Watford will be hit hard by this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations was known before the season. There are 7 African players in the squad and most of them were expected to get an invite, which they did.

Nominated were defender William Troost-Ekong and one of the surprises of this season Emmanuel Dennis (Nigeria), Adam Masina and the club’s most expensive summer signing Imrân Louza (Morocco) and the team’s offensive star Ismaila Sarr (Senegal). All are starting line-up players and there is no doubt that their absence will be felt.

However, not all of them are likely to go to the AFCON. In fact, Ranieri revealed at a press conference that Nigeria failed to inform Watford of Dennis’ nomination by the deadline.

“The email came late. The national team had a deadline to notify us of Dennis’ nomination and they didn’t do it. If they didn’t, we have a choice,” said the Italian coach.

” We respect everyone. We were prepared to lose players, but the nominations didn’t arrive in time. The club management subsequently spoke to the Nigerian national team. I, as a manager, would accept any decision.”

The Nigerian national team, which also lost Victor Osimhen due to the coronavirus, reacted by calling up Slavic’s Peter Olayinka.

Ismaila Sarr is another player Watford refused to let go to AFCON. Senegal nominated him despite the talented winger having seriously injured his knee in November and is not expected to recover until the end of January.

” In an email dated 31 December, the English club Watford informed us, on the basis of dubious and misleading arguments, of its decision not to release Ismaila Sarr, who has expressed his desire to join the national team for the African Cup of Nations.”

Furthermore, the Senegalese Football Federation has condemned Watford’s behaviour as disrespectful and discriminatory and is willing to take up the issue with FIFA if necessary.

Watford responded with a statement of its own, saying that it had been keeping the Senegalese national team regularly informed of Sarr’s condition, ongoing recovery and estimated date of return since early December. He also invited doctors from the national team to assess the player’s condition themselves.

For now, it is certain that Watford will temporarily lose at least 3 players due to AFCON, but Dennis, the Hornets’ most productive player, will remain in the team. The situation regarding Sarr will undoubtedly be resolved in the coming days.

Source: Sky Sports