The Tigers will be without one of their key performers for a spell
Hull City are in discussions with the Nigerian Football Federation in a bid to extend Semi Ajayi’s stay at the MKM Stadium before he jets off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
It had been expected that Ajayi would link up with Nigeria’s squad in Morocco after the visit of Wrexham to the MKM Stadium on December 10, meaning he has just two more games left, including Friday night’s home meeting with Middlesbrough.
That would come as a blow for the player and City, after his Man of the Match display on Saturday, which included his first Tigers goal to help his side win 2-1 at Stoke City.
Talks, however, are ongoing with the authorities in Lagos over keeping Ajayi until after City‘s game at Millwall three days later on December 14, with the experienced defender then flying from Heathrow at the conclusion of that clash in South London.
Eric Chelle’s squad, who reached the final two years ago before losing to Jean Michael Seri’s Ivory Coast, play their first game of the tournament on December 23 against Tanzania at the Fez Stadium.
The tournament runs until January 18, with Ajayi set to miss as many as six league games if the Super Eagles go all the way to the final, as well as an FA Cup third-round tie during the second weekend of January.
If the beaten finalists from 2024 make it to the final again, then Ajayi would be unlikely to return to the squad for City’s trip to face Preston North End at Deepdale on Tuesday, January 20, but would be back for the visit of Swansea City to the MKM Stadium on January 24.
Despite losing Ajayi for around a month, it’s understood the Tigers have no plans to dip into the transfer market to seek a short-term replacement.
Boss Sergej Jakirovic is thought to be content with his options to replace Ajayi, with Akin Famewo likely to be given a chance to impress once again having performed well off the bench when he replaced Ryan Giles on Saturday.
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