Watford talisman Emmanuel Dennis will not be travelling to the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed striker Dennis has been 'excused' from the squad, in a major boost for Watford.
Dennis, Watford's eight-goal top scorer, had been included in Augustine Eguavoen's 28-man party for the tournament in Cameroon.
However, head coach Claudio Ranieri raised doubts about Dennis's involvement by revealing Nigeria may have missed the deadline to inform the Hornets of their intention to select him and that administration error gave Watford a choice whether or not to release him for international duty.