Osunwa, Sherif Sule in Sudan AFCON squad

Nigerian strikers Kelechi Osunwa and Sherif Sule were part of Sudan’s 25-man provisional squad who departed for Qatar ahead of this month’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Two other Nigerians, Olympic team striker Francis Ikechukwu and Isaac Malik, did not make the squad as their Sudanese passports did not come through as hoped.

“My dream to play for Sudan at this year’s Nations Cup won’t come true because there is delay in issuance of my passport,” Ahly Shaadi FC striker Ikechukwu told MTNFootball.com
   
“In fact, I had resumed training with the team before we realised that the passport won’t be ready until later this year. So, I may not debut for Sudan till end of this year or next year.”
   
He further informed: “Kelechi Osunwa and Sherif Sule made it, while I and Isaac Malik have to wait for our passports.”
   
Osunwa, who has played for both of Sudan’s big rivals Al Hilal and Al Merriekh, featured for Nigeria at the 2001 Africa Junior championship in Seychelles and it is left to be seen if his nationality switch has been endorsed by world football governing body FIFA.
   
He also played a couple of friendly matches for Nigeria Olympic team in 2006 in South Africa.
   
The former Dolphin striker’s career has lately been dogged by a serious knee injury which needed surgery and rehabilitation in England.
   
Sule, who played youth football in Lagos, has yet to represent Nigeria at any level but has been in Sudan for the past seven years.