Femi Azeez illness cleared up as Millwall forward set for Bromley return

Millwall head coach Alex Neil says Femi Azeez missed the pre-season defeat by Stevenage through illness rather than for transfer-related reasons, and expects the Super Eagles forward to be available for the club’s next friendly against Bromley FC.

Neil confirmed that Azeez, who enjoyed a standout campaign last term and has since broken into the Nigeria national team, was one of several senior players ruled out of the Stevenage fixture after falling sick in the build-up to the game.

The 23-year-old’s absence from the squad for last weekend’s loss at The Den had prompted speculation over his future, with some supporters wondering whether a potential move away or internal issues were behind his omission.

But speaking to NewsAtDen, Neil underlined that the decision was purely fitness-related and moved to calm any uncertainty around the forward’s situation at the Championship club.

Pre-season setback after play-off heartbreak

Millwall slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Stevenage in their latest pre-season outing, having already lost by the same scoreline to Gillingham in their previous warm-up match as preparations continue for the 2026-27 campaign.

The Lions are attempting to regroup after narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League last season. Neil’s side finished third in the Championship before being knocked out by Hull City in the play-off semi-finals.

Azeez was central to that promotion push, delivering the most productive season of his career and becoming one of Millwall’s key attacking threats.

Super Eagles forward coming off standout season

Across all competitions last term, Azeez scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 38 appearances, form which earned him a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Season.

His performances helped drive Millwall’s challenge near the top of the table and contributed significantly to their run to the play-offs, raising his profile both domestically and internationally.

Uncertainty over his long-term future at The Den had been growing since the end of the campaign, in part because of that breakthrough year and interest it generated, and the forward’s recent omission from pre-season action added further fuel to those rumours before Neil’s clarification.

Nigeria breakthrough after club success

Azeez’s impact has extended beyond club level in recent months. Since the domestic season concluded, he has made his debut for the Super Eagles and enjoyed an immediate influence on the international stage.

He scored both goals in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup semi-final and then played a key role in the final victory against Jamaica, underlining his growing reputation with the national team.

The forward’s international exploits have further enhanced his standing at Millwall as he returns to south London duty ahead of the new Championship season.

Boost expected for Bromley friendly

Neil indicated that Azeez’s illness has now eased and that the forward is in contention to feature in Millwall’s next pre-season fixture, at home to League One side Bromley FC on Tuesday.

If he comes through as planned, it would be his first appearance of the summer and a welcome lift for a Lions side still searching for momentum in their early warm-up schedule.

Millwall will be hoping the return of one of last season’s standout performers helps sharpen their attacking edge as they look to mount another promotion challenge in 2026-27.