Birmingham City's defensive resources are set to be severely tested as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) call-ups begin to take effect, with key right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel departing for international duty.
Blues Hit by Nigerian Call-Up
Bright Osayi-Samuel will join the Nigeria squad for the tournament in Morocco, which runs from December 21 to January 18. His absence will see him miss a minimum of four crucial Championship fixtures for Chris Davies's side: clashes against Sheffield United, Derby County, Southampton, and Watford.
The timing is particularly problematic for Birmingham, as the right-back position – once considered a position of strength – is now critically thin. With Ethan Laird also sidelined through injury, manager Chris Davies must rely on Tomoki Iwata and the seldom-used Alfons Sampsted. Iwata's redeployment from central midfield further depletes the squad's options in another key area.
Championship Rivals Also Feel the Pinch
Birmingham are far from alone in losing key personnel to the continental tournament. A significant number of their second-tier rivals will also be without important players during the busy festive period.
The full list of Championship clubs affected by AFCON call-ups is:
- Birmingham City: Bright Osayi-Samuel (defender, Nigeria)
- Blackburn Rovers: Ryan Alebiosu (defender, Nigeria)
- Hull City: Semi Ajayi (defender, Nigeria)
- Leicester City: Patson Daka (forward, Zambia)
- Queens Park Rangers: Tylon Smith (defender, South Africa)
- Sheffield Wednesday: Yan Valery (defender, Tunisia), Sean Fusire (defender, Zimbabwe)
- Stoke City: Junior Tchamadeu (defender, Cameroon)
- Swansea City: Manuel Benson (forward, Angola)
- Watford: Edo Kayembe (midfielder, DR Congo), Mamadou Doumbia (forward, Mali)
- Wrexham: Issa Kabore (defender, Burkina Faso)
AFCON Schedule and Key Fixture Clashes
The tournament's group stages conclude swiftly, with Groups A and B finishing on December 29, and Groups C and D ending on December 30. The knockout phase begins with the second round between January 3-5, culminating in the final on January 18.
This schedule directly impacts a packed Championship calendar. Birmingham's festive programme is especially demanding, with the absence of Osayi-Samuel looming large over matches against promotion contenders and relegation rivals alike. The fixture against Watford on New Year's Day will see both clubs missing AFCON participants.
Other notable fixtures affected include Leicester City's meeting with Watford on December 26, where the Foxes will be without striker Patson Daka, and Swansea's clash with Wrexham on December 19, which will see Manuel Benson and Issa Kabore absent for their respective clubs.
Managerial Headache for Chris Davies
The loss of Osayi-Samuel presents a significant tactical challenge for Birmingham boss Chris Davies. Compounding the issue is the fact that none of Blues' next three opponents – Sheffield United, Derby, and Southampton – are losing players to AFCON, potentially handing them a squad depth advantage.
Davies must now find a solution that maintains defensive solidity without overly compromising his midfield, given Iwata's likely shift to full-back. The coming weeks will test the depth and adaptability of his squad during one of the season's most intense periods.
How Birmingham navigate this period could prove pivotal to their Championship campaign, with points dropped in the defender's absence potentially costly in the quest for a playoff place or a push for automatic promotion.
