Lazio freeze Dele-Bashiru due to next month’s AFCON

ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 18: Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of SS Lazio in action during the Serie A match between Lazio and Venezia at Stadio Olimpico on August 18, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Ivan Romano/Getty Images)

Lazio have  reportedly decided against reinstating Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to their Serie A squad for yesterday’s home game againstLecce  despite the fact that he  was  fit.

Dele-Bashiru was cut off the Serie A squad in September following a muscle injury in the Rome Derby against AS Roma but has since recovered but he has not yet been reinstated  despite the fact that Nicolo Rovella is expected to be sidelined for a significant period.

However, a leading  Italian football outfit  has offered  the reason behind  Dele Bashiru’s  present situation at Lazio  which is not unconnected  with his possible recall  for super Eagles’ campaign at next month’s Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) in Morocco.

Before being out injured in September, the 24-year-old  has played just  four times  for the Biancocelesti in this on-going campaign.

But apart from this  supposedly ‘underwhelming performances at the start of the season’, a correspondent at Football Italia, has claimed  that  Lazio  coach Maurizio Sarri was not ready to  accommodate  the Nigeria International in his plans since he would soon  be jetting out  for the AFCON .

“There is a reason why Dele-Bashiru has not been brought back into Lazio’s Serie A squad, though. He will soon be jetting off for the Africa Cup of Nations, so changing the squad list would have only created further confusion within the squad and would not have made much sense,” the  report noted. “A final decision will be made at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Lazio still need to take into account whether there might be any opportunities for the Nigeria international on the transfer market, and whether they will want more freedom to move things around in their current squad,” the report added.

Meanwhile,  Lazio  last night secured a 2-0  victory over Lecce  at Stadio Olimpico.