Al Ain goalkeeper Hassan Muhammed has turned down an invitation to represent Nigeria in a friendly against Russia, according to reports by Naija Ballers on Twitter.
The 20-year-old was contacted by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle ahead of the match scheduled for October 6 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Russia.
The invitation was part of Chelle's plans to blend senior and under-23 players for the fixture, which follows Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in September 2026.
Muhammed declined the call-up due to concerns over his club status in the United Arab Emirates. He currently holds a UAE passport, which allows him to play in the UAE Pro League despite a ban on foreign goalkeepers.
Reports indicate that playing for Nigeria at international level would change his registration status to a foreign player, making him ineligible under league rules. The decision was linked to his need to establish himself at Al Ain, where officials view him as a long-term prospect with potential to feature for the UAE in the future.
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