15:T771,

The worst fears of Nigerian Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, ahead of next month’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa are beginning to come true.

Keshi had recently expressed fears that some of the players he is depending on to make Nigeria proud at CHAN may travel abroad before the championship. He wished that the players, especially 2013 Africa Cup of Nations hero Sunday Mba and another Super Eagles regular, Azubuike Egwuekwe, would stay for CHAN before leaving for professional careers abroad.

The nightmare started yesterday when it became clear that Mba could no longer wait to jet out to France to join Ligue 1 club Bastia, which first indicated interest in tim after the Nations Cup triumph.

Both Keshi and his assistant, Daniel Amokachi, confirmed the development, with the latter adding that Mba could leave camp as early as today, as he was not one of the players listed for the friendly game in Port Harcourt tomorrow against a Rivers selected side.

“We have resigned ourselves to fate and working hard to discover those who can fill Mba’s shoes, as he seems to have nicked a deal with Bastia and may not be part of CHAN tourney. We just to brace up and wish him the best because it’s a career thing” Amokachi said.

Nigeria’s build-up for the championship had earlier suffered a blow when kid sensation Kelechi Iheanacho left camp to travel to Europe for contract talks. Egwuekwe has also indicated that he may be Europe-bound before CHAN, a championship meant for African players playing in leagues across the continent.

Keshi, who led the Super Eagles to win the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last February, has ruled Nigeria out of contention at CHAN but promised to ensure that the country is not disgraced.

•Photo shows France-bound Sunday Mba.

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