Goztepe midfielder, Junior Olaitan, will not be making the trip to Benin Republic’s World Cup qualifying game against Rwanda this weekend.
The midfielder was blocked by his Turkish club from making the trip and this would be a big blow for the West African side.
Benin Republic has a date with Rwanda and Nigeria in the October international break.
The midfielder, who was born in Porto-Novo to a Beninese mother and Nigerian father, chose to represent Getnot Rohr’s side over Nigeria despite growing up in Lagos.
Benin coach, Rohr made the midfielder part of his squad to prosecute the two last games in the qualifying series against Rwanda and Nigeria despite him nursing an injury that sidelined him for Göztepe’s last two Super Lig matches.
Mega Sports reports that the 23-year-old was detained by Goztepe officials at Istanbul Airport as he attempted to leave the city secretly, without the club’s permission.
Göztepe prevented him from flying to Kigali despite FiFA regulations that mandates them to release Oliatain to the Benin Football Federation.
However, the club is within their rights to block the player from travelling to Rwanda if medical assessments confirm he is not fit to play.
The midfielder is a key figure in Rohr’s squad and had started the Cheetahs’ last eighteen competitive matches.
WCQ: Blow for Benin as club blocks key player from joining squad against Rwanda, Nigeria