Dream Dashed: Club Confirms Super Eagles Standby Star Not Available For Benin, Lesotho

Gernot Rohr is bound to grow more worried as one of his replacement players is ruled out of participating in the national team’s engagements next week

Terem Moffi’s slim hopes of making his international debut this month have been dashed after FC Lorient announced the club’s decision not to release some of its internationals playing outside Europe during the next international break.

Moffi has enjoyed a fantastic maiden campaign in France, scoring eight Ligue 1 goals to power his side out of relegation troubles.

The youngster’s exploits were rewarded last week when head coach Gernot Rohr while picking his 24-man squad, named the former Kortrijk striker on the standby list.

Any withdrawal from the main list could have seen Moffi called up to the senior side for the first time, with Rohr already replacing injured Bordeaux playmaker Samuel Kalu with Galatasaray speedster Henry Onyekuru.

But the 21-year-old’s dreams of representing his fatherland were cut short on Thursday when his club released a statement, as per Le Telegramme, that no international player will be allowed to leave the club at the end of March.

“Like several French professional clubs, FC Lorient has taken the decision not to release its selected international players playing outside the European area during the next international break scheduled for the end of March,” the statement said in part.

Another French side Nantes have also blocked winger Moses Simon from teaming up with the Super Eagles next week.

Nigeria face the Benin Republic on March 27 before taking on Lesotho on home soil four days later.