Crystal Palace’s Christantus Uche faces possible sanction after late return from Nigeria duty

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Nigeria international Christantus Uche may face internal disciplinary action from Crystal Palace after reporting late to the club following the recent international break, sources have confirmed.

The 23-year-old Nigerian forward, who joined Palace from Getafe during the summer transfer window, was left out of the squad for the club’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth, failing to make the matchday bench.

Uche was among 15 Crystal Palace players called up for international duty, featuring for Nigeria in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where the Super Eagles secured victories over Lesotho and Benin.

However, according to club sources, both Uche and Rio Cardines returned late from their respective national team commitments — a decision that reportedly influenced their exclusion from the Bournemouth fixture.

The club is expected to handle the situation internally, with a possible fine or further sanction being considered depending on the outcome of the review.

Uche’s absence came at a time when manager Oliver Glasner was dealing with a stretched squad due to injuries and player fatigue from international travel, further compounding the selection challenges.

As of now, neither the club nor the player has issued an official statement on the matter.