25 April 2011
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have formally requested Dutch club VVV Venlo to release striker Ahmed Musa for Thursdays African Youth Championship semi-final against Mali.
A top NFF official informed MTNFootball.com that a letter was despatched to VVV immediately the Flying Eagles booked their place in the last four of the biennial Under-20 tournament in South Africa courtesy of a 2-0 win over Gambia in a final group tie.
According to the official, the Dutch club are willing to allow him feature in the semi-final after the player personally made a request to them.
I will have a definite word from the club as regards Ahmeds availability by Monday afternoon, the official hinted.
If everything goes as hoped, Musa will arrive Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday before he would then fly back to his European base on Thursday only hours after the Mali clash.
The 18-year-old former Kano Pillars star was the man of the match in Nigerias opening Group B match win over defending champions Ghana at the AYC.
However, Musa had to fly back to Holland a day after helping Nigeria beat the Black Satelites so as to be part of his clubs home game against Heerenveen.
VVV are battling for survival in the Dutch top flight and were at the weekend forced to a 2-2 draw by visiting Heerenveen as closest rivals for a promotion/relegation playoff Willem II won at home to narrow the gap between the two teams to only three points with two matches still to be played.
Next week Sunday, when the AYC final will be played, Musa’s club will host mid-table Feyenoord in continuation of the league, before they play their last game away at De Graafscahp two weeks later.
Willem II will on Sunday be away to league leaders Twente, while their final fixture is at home to NAC Breda.
