FC Basel did not list new signing, Noah Okafor for action at the weekend, as the Swiss side preferred to employ him in action with the under-21 team instead.
Reports out of Switzerland last weekend revealed that the highly-rated Swiss-born Nigerian midfielder will have to wait to make his professional debut for the league champions.
Okafor was among four players with the U21 squad at the Marcel Fischer Cup in Allschwil and as a result he is not eligible to face Lugano on Sunday.
Hours before the close of the January transfer window, Basel announced that Okafor had signed his first professional contract with the club, handed the number 11 kit and promoted to the first team.
The attacking midfielder has been the most impressive Nigerian performer in this season’s UEFA Youth League, finding the twice and providing four assists from five appearances.
Okafor, who has been invited to Switzerland’s U15-U18 national teams in the past, has been likened to Chelsea star, Cesc Fabregas due to his creativity, strong offensive skills and ability to strike the balls from distance.
