Sevilla have confirmed that Nigerian internationals Chidera Ejuke and Kelechi Iheanacho have returned to the club following their involvement with the Super Eagles during the September international break, Soccernet.ng reports.
The pair arrived back in Seville on Wednesday, just 24 hours after returning to Nigeria from a turbulent trip to Libya.
Both Ejuke and Iheanacho, alongside their Nigerian teammates, were caught in a troubling situation while attempting to travel for a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Benghazi, Libya.
Instead of reaching their destination, their flight was diverted to Al Abraq, a smaller airport around 150 miles away.
Stranded at the airport for over sixteen hours, the team was eventually rescued through the intervention of the Nigerian government, which arranged for their safe return to Abuja.
This shocking ordeal led to the Super Eagles boycotting the match, while the Nigerian government summoned Libya’s Charge d’Affaires for an explanation regarding the incident. Libya maintained that the delay was unintentional, but the situation has escalated diplomatically.
Despite this ordeal, Ejuke and Iheanacho are expected to resume training with Sevilla on Thursday, October 17, in preparation for their crucial La Liga clash against league leaders Barcelona at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Sunday.
🦅 The Super Eagles have landed! 😍
🇳🇬 Welcome back guys! 👋 pic.twitter.com/ROyOrWCt9A
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) October 16, 2024
Ejuke has been a standout performer for Sevilla since his arrival from CSKA Moscow over the summer.
He was named Sevilla’s Player of the Month for September and currently leads the La Liga charts for successful dribbles, with one goal in eight league appearances.
As Sevilla prepare to face Barcelona, both Ejuke and Iheanacho will be key figures in their bid to secure a vital result.