Mourinho excluded Osayi-Samuel from Fenerbahce's traveling squad today

Posted : 02 October 2024

Fenerbahce manager José Mourinho has unveiled a 21-player squad set to travel for their Europa League clash against the Dutch Eredivisie team Twente at De Grolsch Veste. The team has been preparing rigorously for this important match, showcasing their commitment and readiness for the challenge ahead.

On Wednesday morning, the Yellow Canaries held a training session at the Fenerbahçe Can Bartu Facilities, focusing on strategies and conditioning ahead of their trip to the Netherlands. The atmosphere during practice was positive, with players eager to demonstrate their abilities and work towards a successful outcome in the upcoming fixture.

Bright Osayi-Samuel, a fullback for the Super Eagles, was seen participating in the training session despite earlier concerns regarding an injury he sustained during the Europa League opener against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on September 26. His presence on the training field indicated that he was working towards regaining full fitness.

However, Osayi-Samuel was notably absent from Mourinho's squad for Thursday evening’s match against Twente. This decision was not due to any lingering issues with his fitness but rather a matter of discipline. He is currently ineligible to play in this fixture because he is serving a suspension.

The suspension stems from an incident in Fenerbahce's 2-1 victory over Union SG, where Osayi-Samuel received his first career red card. He was cautioned for time-wasting in the 87th minute and was subsequently sent off shortly thereafter for committing a foul that resulted in a penalty kick, which was saved by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

Meanwhile, Augustine Eguavoen, the interim manager of the Nigeria national team, faces a significant decision regarding Osayi-Samuel's potential inclusion in the squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya. The right-back's recent form and fitness will be crucial factors in determining his availability for the national team.

Since the beginning of September, Osayi-Samuel has seen limited action, managing only twenty-five minutes on the pitch across all competitions due to various fitness challenges. His recent suspension and the coach’s decisions will play a key role in his opportunities moving forward, both at the club and international levels.

Mourinho excluded Osayi-Samuel from Fenerbahce's traveling squad today

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