Olayinka celebrates Eagles re-call for AFCON

Peter Olayinka is still on cloud nine after his surprised inclusion in the Nigeria’s squad to the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The Slavia Prague winger was added to the Nigeria team following the withdrawals of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Watford talisman Emmanuel Dennis.

Prior to his unexpected call-up, Olayinka was due to fly with the Slavia Prague squad to Algarve for a training camp from 5 to 24 January 2022.

With the likes of Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon untouchables in former coach Gernot Rohr’s squad over the last two years, Olayinka found it difficult to earn a roster spot, logging a paltry ten minutes combined across two international friendlies.

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Only recently, Olayinka signed new contract with Slavia until June 2023.
The 25-year old Nigerian winger joined Slavia at the end of July 2018 for 3.2 million euro which was the club’s record fee at that time. He has started to 85 competitive games since, scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists. He was one of the key players in our 2020/21 UEFA Europa League campaign so far scoring against Leverkusen home and Nice away. He also scored away at Midtjylland in the UCL Play-off.

Mostly on the left wing, he helped Slavia to 2 Czech league titles, one MOL Cup victory, one Czechoslovak Supercup and to qualify for the UCL Group Stage in 2019/20.

“I am happy that I could extend my contract in Slavia and that I can continue playing for the club. It is very important to see that the club trusts me and that they want me to stay. It is pushing me forward,” Olayinka said. 

“My first year here was quite difficult, but now I am enjoying myself and everything is going good. This season and the last one were both fantastic,” the 25-year old Nigerian added.