Napoliare planning to stop Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen and other African players from playing at the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon next January.
Napoli lawyers are studying the possibilities of exploiting loopholes to block several of their top African stars including Osimhen from featuring at next year’s AFCON.
Napoli have in their ranks three othere Africans apart from Osimhen. Zambo Anguissa play for hosts Cameroon, while Kalidou Koulibaly play for Senegal and Adam Ounas, Ghoulam for Algeria.
The AFCON which was scheduled to hold in 2021 was shifted to January 9 to February 6, 2022 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to FIFA rules, clubs are obliged to release the players for a major tournament like the AFCON at least two weeks to kick-off.
That will mean Napoli could be without these players for as many as six weeks depending on how their various countries fare in the continental competition.
Meanwhile, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has ruled out the sale of the red hot Super Eagles striker who is valued currently at €120m following his impressive scoring form.
The 22-year-old has made a blistering start to his second year at the club this season bagging six goals and an assist in his first six games so far.
The Nigerian is been monitored by four top European clubs, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and PSG but De Laurentiis has hinted that it will take a mammoth offer to lure the former Lille striker away from the Partenopei next summer.
De Laurentiis says, Osimhen’s purchase was a real market hit for Napoli and a significant investment in the history of the club which could turn into a substantial capital gain.
