Nigeria international Samuel Chukwueze buried his mother on Thursday in Abia State, a development that has ruled him out of the Super Eagles' June international window.
The 27-year-old winger laid his late mother, Prophetess Dr Mrs Serah Chinyere Chukwueze, to rest in Umuahia on May 29, 2026, about four months after she died at the age of 59 in January.
The Nigeria Football Federation excused Chukwueze from national duty on compassionate grounds, and head coach Eric Chelle has removed him from the squad for the friendlies against Poland and Portugal.
The burial followed a wake-keep held on May 28 in Umuahia and drew a large gathering at the family compound in Isieke Ibeku. NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau attended the ceremony and was seen consoling the player, while Super Eagles teammates Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidozie Awaziem were also present.
In his place, Chelle has called up Millwall forward Femi Azeez. The 24-year-old made his debut three days earlier and scored both goals in Nigeria's 2-0 win over Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup semi-final on May 27.
Azeez will stay with the squad for the Unity Cup final against Jamaica at The Valley in London on Saturday. The team will then travel to Warsaw for the friendly against Poland next Wednesday, before facing Portugal in Leiria on June 10, as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.