The duo of David Okereke and Emmanuel Dennis are unlikely to be involved in the 2019 Africa Under 23 Cup of Nations in Egypt after their club, after Club Brugge refused to grand them permission to join the team.

Cheif Coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team Imama Amakapabo was hoping to have the pair for the Olympics qualifying tournament in Egypt, but reports from the Belgian media has it that both players won’t be released by the Club since it doesn’t fall into FIFA calendar.

Okereke and Dennis were involved in the qualifiers for Nigeria and their involvement would have boost the country’s chances of picking the Tokyo 2020 Olympic tickets.

The decision of the Club to hold on to the players is another major setback for the head coach Imama Amapakabor who’s struggling to assemble his best legs for the Championship.

Dennis and Okereke who scored last Saturday against Standard Liege are expected to be in Club Brugge’s squad for Wednesday’s league game with Zulte Waregem.

The Africa Under-23 AFCON scheduled for Egypt from November 8 to 22 and Nigeria has been drawn along side Zambia , Ivory Coast and South Africa in Group of the tournament.