Hibs AFCON latest as coach drops heavy hint - so will trio of stars be cleared to face Rangers?
Bushiri, Chaiwa and Obita all due to report for international duty
Hibs are still locked in negotiations aimed at keeping a trio of vital players on club duty for Monday night’s clash with Rangers at Ibrox. And Uganda coach Paul Put has suggested that Jordan Obita could be be cleared for a game that could see David Gray’s men overtake their hosts in the Scottish Premiership table.
Talks with Uganda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are ongoing as Hibs look to win some wiggle room on a FIFA deadline of December 15 for releasing their players to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco. Miguel Chaiwa was confirmed in the Zambia squad yesterday, while Rocky Bushiri has been selected for his second consecutive AFCON appearance with the DRC.
Rangers, who also have a couple of players heading to Africa, and Hibs have both argued that their league game being moved from Sunday until Monday night – to avoid a clash with the Premier Sports Cup Final at Hampden – should buy them an extra 24 hours’ leeway to miss the deadline. And Ugandan boss Put has indicated that FIFA are listening to clubs.
Uganda coach left short of bodies
“We received a message from FIFA that we can only have the players abroad on the 16th or 17th,” said Put. “I had hoped to get them from the eighth. Now we will be with half the team until then.
“It becomes very difficult to make good preparation but we will deal with it. It is unfortunate but it is like this.”
Obita could solve wingback problem
Obita being free to face Rangers would be a major boost for Hibs, assuming the experienced defender is fit after missing the weekend win over Falkirk with a minor knock. With Nicky Cadden battling to regain fitness, Gray had to deploy attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath at left wingback against the Bairns.
Although the Irishman performed well, he is far more at home in the role played by Chaiwa in the 3-0 victory, breaking forward from midfield to join the attack. If Chaiwa is forced to join the Zambia squad jetting off to a training camp in Spain tomorrow, Gray will have to shuffle his pack again.
While Bushiri has been one of the dominant players for Hibs this season, the presence of Scotland World Cup hero Grant Hanley does give Gray cover in the centre of defence.