Super Eagles’ head coach, Gernot Rohr, has called up 23 players ahead of next week’s crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Uyo.
The 23-man list includes majority of the squad that negotiated the double header against African champions Cameroon in the last set of qualifiers. It has 3 goalkeepers, 7 defenders, 6 midfielders and 7 forwards.
Only two players namely Portugal-based goalkeeper Dele Alampasu and wing back Tyronne Ebuehi drop out of the last squad with South Africa–based Daniel Akpeyi and Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi making their return from injury to take their spots.
Alampasu and Ebuehi have been named on a 5-man list of standby players by Franco-German coach Rohr. Two home-based players, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Afeez Aremu, join the aforementioned duo on the list after their heroics at the just concluded WAFU. CSKA Moscow forward Aaron Samuel is the fifth name on the standby list.
Nigeria host Zambia on Saturday, October 7 in Uyo with the knowledge that a win would be enough to seal a 6th FIFA World Cup appearance in Russia next summer.
All invited players are expected to report to camp in Uyo by Monday, October 2, 2017.
Super Eagles List:
Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Ayodele Ajiboye (Plateau United FC)
Defenders: William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Elderson Echiejile (Sivasspor FC, Turkey); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England)
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Chang Chun-Yatai, China); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Anthony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
Standby: Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Aaron Samuel (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Afeez Aremu (Akwa United); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United)
