LAGOS, Reuter — Fifteen Nigerian players could face suspension from league soccer for failing to appear for training, a senior Nigerian soccer official said.
Nigerian football association secretary-general Tunji Fagbent said 22 Nigerian league players and three professionals from Belgian clubs were in the eastern town of Enugu, where the African group C match will be played.
But 15 first division players, who had not presented themselves for selection for the squad, could be barred from registering for the new season, beginning on February 11, unless they had good reasons for their absence, he said.
Top clubs ranchers bees and Iwuanyanwu Nationale could lose a number of leader players if the suspensions go ahead.
Fagbent said that in the absence of West Germanborn technical manager Manfred Hoener, missing since the end of last month according to local newspaper reports, team manager Austine Agwai was in full charge.
Local coaches Paul Hamilton and Ganiyu Salami would make the final team selection, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 13, 1989
