CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers could be set for a club versus country battle over Nigerian defender Efe Ambrose.
The Super Eagles have released a provisional 35-man squad for this summer’s Olympics in Rio.
Despite Ambrose not featuring in the group – which can contains three over-23 players – the 27-year-old is understood to be high up on the list compiled by the country’s coaching staff to still be called up for the Brazilian showpiece.
The collection of senior figures in the team currently include Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel, Watford’s Odion Ighalo and Warri Wolves shot stopper Daniel Akpeyi. However, doubts remain over the availability of the two English-based stars.
There are question marks over Nigeria captain Mikel and head coach Samson Siasia is claiming Watford are refusing to release striker Ighalo for the event that will run from August 3 all the way through to Sunday August 21.
And reports in Ambrose’s homeland claim that the man who is in line to be part of Rodgers’ squad in the Champions League qualifiers – against either Estonian side Flora Talinn or Lincoln of Gibraltar - is being considered if a vacant space appears.
This could give the Celtic boss a headache as Nigeria get ready to fly to the USA for a training camp, where ironically they will face Charleston Battery, the same side Rangers will also play on their pre-season jaunt, meaning he would be unavailable for the vital first few matches of the Hoops’ Euro qualifying campaign.
Meanwhile, the enigmatic defender is expected to join the rest of his team-mates at Glasgow Airport today as they jet out to Slovenia for a four-match tour.
The Ladbrokes Premiership champions will be based in the city of Maribor as Rodgers steps up his Champions League preparations on the back of a productive few days at Lennoxtown.
After arriving at around 7pm tonight, the Bhoys will have to wait three days for their first fixture of the tour when they make the short journey to take on NK Celje on Thursday night.
On the back of that, they will then hop across the border to face Austrian outfit Sturm Graz on Sunday, July 3.
The following Wednesday Celtic will travel to the Slovenian capital in a match with Olimpija Ljubljana, before finishing off with a friendly contest against Maribor, the side that dumped them out of the Champions League play-off round two years ago.
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