Ahanor drops out of Italy squad but will be available for crucial U21 qualifier | OneFootball

Honest Ahanor has officially withdrawn from the Italy national team squad ahead of Friday evening’s Nations League clash away against France, but will now be available for Silvio Baldini and the Italy U21 squad ahead of a crucial European Championship qualifier for the Azzurrini.

Ahanor drops out of Italy senior squad and teams up with Baldini’s U21s

Italy have two fixtures remaining of the extra-long September-October international break: Away against France at the Stade de France on Friday evening and at home against Turkey at the Dall’Ara in Bologna on Monday night.

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Roberto Mancini, Head Coach of Italy, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Mancini originally called up a squad of 34 players for the September-October break, which was later cut down to 32 players after Nicolo Zaniolo and Giacomo Raspadori left the camp without being replaced.

However, teams are only allowed to name 23 players in their matchday squads for Nations League fixtures, which means that Mancini had to drop nine players for the France test. 

Ahanor was among them, as well as Massimo Pessina, Diego Coppola, Daniele Ghilardi, Eddy Kouadio, Alessandro Romano, Rolando Mandragora, Nicolo Cambiaghi and Samuele Inacio.

Ahanor had been an unused substitute for Italy’s 2-0 loss against Belgium last week, but was not included in the matchday squad for the 4-1 victory away against Turkey on Monday either.

An update from the FIGC on Friday confirms that not only has Ahanor not travelled with the team for the France match, but that he will now drop out of the squad and join up with the Italy U21s instead.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 02: Honest Ahanor of Atalanta BC in action challenges for the ball with Vitinha of Genoa FC during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Genoa CFC at Gewiss Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Silvio Baldini’s Italy U21 squad beat Armenia 1-0 in their penultimate European Championship qualifier on Thursday evening, but they still remain in second place in their qualification group behind Poland, whom they will face in a decisive qualifier on Monday night.

16 nations will be involved in the 2027 European U21 Championship next summer. Two of them will be co-hosts Albania and Serbia and the other 14 will be determined in the qualifying stage.

There are nine qualification groups. Each group winner will qualify directly for the final tournament and will be joined by the best of the second-placed sides. The remaining eight second-placed teams will progress to a play-off round to determine the final four tournament spots.

CREMONA – OCTOBER 14: Coach Silvio Baldini of Italy reacts during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Italy are currently in second place with eight victories from nine matches in qualification Group E, behind Poland, who have a 100% win record in qualifying ahead of a crucial match between the two sides on Monday night.

Only a victory against Poland on Monday will mathematically guarantee the Italy U21s a spot in the final tournament. A draw or loss will mean they remain in second place, which will leave them relying on results elsewhere to qualify as the best runner-up. Fortunately, the Azzurrini are guaranteed a spot in the play-off round at a minimum.