Birmingham City must brace themselves for Bright Osayi-Samuel problem
Birmingham City have signed free agent Bright Osayi-Samuel after his Fenerbahce contract expired
Birmingham City are likely to lose new signing Bright Osayi-Samuel for a period next season due to the rescheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Osayi-Samuel is a 22-cap Nigeria international and the Super Eagles will take part in AFCON in December.
Their first game against Tanzania is set for December 23 before further group stage fixtures against Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda on December 30.
Osayi-Samuel is expected to form part of Éric Chelle’s squad as Nigeria look to go one better than two years ago when they were defeated 2-1 in the final by Ivory Coast.
The final of the tournament will take place on January 18, meaning Osayi-Samuel could miss seven league matches – plus Blues’ FA Cup third round tie – if Nigeria reach the final.
He would likely have to report well in advance of Nigeria’s opener on December 23, forcing him to sit out of Blues’ meeting with Sheffield United on December 20. Osayi-Samuel would miss festive fixtures against Derby, Southampton and Watford even if Nigeria don’t make it beyond the group stages.
There is the possibility that he could also miss matches against Coventry (January 4), Swansea (January 17) and Sheffield Wednesday (January 20) if Nigeria reach the final.
The tournament, which will be held in Morocco, wasn’t supposed to be staged in the winter this year but it was pushed back due to the expanded Club World Cup.
Fortunately, Blues are well stocked in the right-back position with Osayi-Samuel set to battle Ethan Laird for a starting place. Iceland international Alfons Sampsted is still in the building and utility man Taylor Gardner-Hickman is capable of filling in.
Who will win the battle to be Blues' right-back? Have your say HERE
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