![\"Bright](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1_Bright-Osayi-Samuel.jpg\")
Bright Osayi-Samuel during a Nigeria game(Image: SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty)<\/p>\nBirmingham City have signed free agent Bright Osayi-Samuel after his Fenerbahce contract expiredBright Osayi-Samuel during a Nigeria game(Image: SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty)<\/p>\n
Birmingham City are likely to lose new signing Bright Osayi-Samuel for a period next season due to the rescheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n
Osayi-Samuel is a 22-cap Nigeria international and the Super Eagles will take part in AFCON in December.<\/p>\n
Their first game against Tanzania is set for December 23 before further group stage fixtures against Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda on December 30.<\/p>\n
Osayi-Samuel is expected to form part of \u00c9ric Chelle\u2019s squad as Nigeria look to go one better than two years ago when they were defeated 2-1 in the final by Ivory Coast.<\/p>\n
The final of the tournament will take place on January 18, meaning Osayi-Samuel could miss seven league matches \u2013 plus Blues\u2019 FA Cup<\/a> third round tie \u2013 if Nigeria reach the final.<\/p>\n He would likely have to report well in advance of Nigeria\u2019s opener on December 23, forcing him to sit out of Blues\u2019 meeting with Sheffield United on December 20. Osayi-Samuel would miss festive fixtures against Derby, Southampton and Watford even if Nigeria don\u2019t make it beyond the group stages.<\/p>\n There is the possibility that he could also miss matches against Coventry (January 4), Swansea (January 17) and Sheffield Wednesday (January 20) if Nigeria reach the final.<\/p>\n The tournament, which will be held in Morocco, wasn\u2019t supposed to be staged in the winter this year but it was pushed back due to the expanded Club World Cup.<\/p>\n Fortunately, Blues <\/a>are well stocked in the right-back position with Osayi-Samuel set to battle Ethan Laird for a starting place. Iceland international Alfons Sampsted is still in the building and utility man Taylor Gardner-Hickman is capable of filling in.<\/p>\n Who will win the battle to be Blues’ right-back? 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