The Saudi club Al Shabab has blamed the NFF for sending the release letter for the 32-year-old striker; Sunday Ighalo late.

The club through the director of professionalism Majid Al-Marzouki, have come out to deny they blocked the former Manchester United striker from representing the Super Eagles at the competition which kicks off on Sunday, and instead blamed the federation for sending his release letter late.

“We did not prevent the player from joining, but his invitation letter did not reach us within the period specified by Fifa for receiving the players’ call-up letters,”

“The Fifa Player Status Regulations stipulates that the local federation must notify the player and his club in writing of his summon 15 days before the start of the tournament, and it is advised to send a copy to the local federation of the club as well, which did not happen, and accordingly the coach told us that the player continues with us and will not join his team.”

The 32-year-old was officially ruled out of the 33rd edition of the African competition on Thursday after it emerged his Saudi Arabia club had refused to release him owing to contractual reasons.

Apart from Ighalo, Nigeria also failed to secure the release of striker Emmanuel Dennis from Premier League side Watford. The Super Eagles under interim coach Austin Eguavoen will also miss the services of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.