Millwall have prevented Femi Azeez from joining the Super Eagles for their upcoming friendlies against Poland and Portugal, the club confirming the forward will not be available for the fixtures.
That matters now because one of those matches is the high‑profile Nigeria Vs Portugal friendly fans and media are searching for, and Azeez had been added to the squad as a late replacement — meaning his absence changes Nigeria’s immediate options for those games.
Azeez earned the call after a bright run of form: he impressed at the Unity Cup invitational tournament and was drafted into the Super Eagles as a replacement for Samuel Chukwueze. He then made an explosive start for Nigeria, scoring a brace on his debut against the Warriors of Zimbabwe — performances that persuaded the national coaching staff to include him for the friendlies.
Club interference is at the centre of the decision. Millwall reportedly blocked Azeez’s release because he is involved in major transfer interest; the club recently turned down a €20m bid from Premier League new boys Ipswich Town and has seen Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion linked to the player. That transfer activity, Millwall held, is reason enough to keep Azeez with the club rather than allow him to travel for the Poland and Portugal fixtures.
The immediate consequence is practical: Nigeria loses a forward who had been added specifically because of form and recent international promise. Coaching staff must adapt their selection plans with Azeez sidelined from the friendlies, while supporters will watch the Nigeria Vs Portugal match without a player who had just forced his way into consideration. For Millwall, the choice protects an asset during active transfer speculation; for the Super Eagles, it creates a short‑term gap in a squad reshaped by late changes.
What is not resolved is whether Millwall’s stance will hold beyond these matches. The club’s refusal to release Azeez came after it rebuffed a €20m approach and amid links to other Premier League suitors, and there is no confirmation that the ban applies to future windows or fixtures. The core question now is straightforward: will Millwall complete a transfer that frees Azeez for international duty, or will the club maintain control, keeping him out of Nigeria’s immediate plans until the situation is settled?
