Villarreal’s Chukwueze Regrets Missed Clash with Guinea-Bissau, Cites Club Commitments

Samuel Chukwueze, the Villarreal youth team midfielder, expressed his disappointment at missing the Flying Eagles’ match against Guinea-Bissau due to club commitments, reported by Completesportsnigeria.com.

The Flying Eagles commenced their journey towards securing a spot in next year’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Niger Republic with a hard-fought 2-2 first-leg away draw against Guinea-Bissau. Wasiu Alalade’s brace granted the Flying Eagles a commanding 2-0 first-half lead, only for Mada Alberto Pereira to level the score with a brace for the hosts.

Chukwueze, a vital member of the Golden Eaglets squad that clinched the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, clarified that his elevation from Villarreal’s U-19 team to Team B prolonged his season due to involvement in their playoff match, an imperative step in the cadet Yellow Submarines’ pursuit of ascending to the Segunda division.

Expressing his regret at missing the Guinea-Bissau encounter, Chukwueze conveyed, “I’m very disappointed to miss the (Guinea-Bissau) match. I spoke with the coach and I explained to him that I won’t be available because of our (Villarreal) play-off match.”

Despite the setback, Chukwueze emphasized his commitment to aiding his team in the playoffs before rejoining the Flying Eagles camp, affirming, “I hope to help my team in the play-offs and then return to Nigeria to join the Flying Eagles camp.”

Chukwueze, having previously been part of the Flying Eagles squad under Emmanuel Amuneke, experienced the disappointment of elimination by Sudan in the qualifiers for the 2017 U-20 AFCON in Zambia. His dedication to both club and country remains unwavering as he navigates the intricate balance between club commitments and national team duties.