Nigeria international Bruno Onyemaechi has disclosed that he was on the brink of transferring from Portuguese club Boavista to French side Nantes during the Africa Cup of Nations, Sportblog247.com reports.

Onyemaechi was part of the Super Eagles squad that reached the final of the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. During Nigeria’s campaign, Ligue 1 club Nantes made a bid for the 25-year-old, and an agreement was seemingly reached with Boavista.

Believing the deal was finalized, Onyemaechi informed his national team coaches and teammates and even prepared to leave Cote d’Ivoire. However, he later received news that Boavista had cancelled the deal.

“It really happened,” Onyemaechi told Sportblog247.com. “When I was at the AFCON, I nearly left the camp. This was Nantes. I nearly left the camp, and then my agent called me back and said to me that Nantes changed some things in the contract offer they made to Boavista, and then Boavista didn’t accept.

“So I needed to stay back because the national team players they already said to me ‘Congratulations’ for I’m leaving, I’m going to Nantes. That is what happened.”

Onyemaechi joined Boavista from fellow Portuguese side Feirense in 2022, initially on loan, before making the move permanent a year later for a €1 million transfer fee. The left-back, valued at €3 million by Transfermarkt, is contracted to Boavista until the summer of 2026.