Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Gernot Rohr, has pruned to 24 players the initial 31-man list for the Super Eagles’ friendly match against arch-rivals and 5-time AFCON champions, Cameroon, in Austria Friday next week.
Nine players were dropped from the initial list and two more included. It is striking to note that two home-based players were retained in the list and also some unknown names while he dropped some established players.
The nine players dropped from the provisional list include goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); defenders Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England), and Kevin Akpoguma (Hoffenheim, Germany); midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); and, strikers Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain), Sadiq Umar (Almeria FC, Spain), and Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray FC, Turkey).
The two added players are Turkey-based former U20 defender Valentine Ozornwafor and Denmark-based Frank Onyeka.
FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, The Netherlands); Valentine Ozornwafor (Galatasaray FC, Turkey)
Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus); Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Abraham Marcus (CD Feirense, Portugal)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars FC); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Simy Nwankwo (Crotone FC, Italy)
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have on three different occasions denied the Super Eagles of Nigeria the opportunity of lifting the AFCON Cup after defeating Nigeria in the final matches of those tournaments.
Nigeria last lost to Cameroon in regulation time in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 27th May, 1989 in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Nigeria last met with Cameroon in the Round of 16 of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt where goals from Odion Ighalo (brace) and Alex Iwobi ensured the Super Eagles had a 3-2 victory to qualify for the quarter finals of the tournament.
Azuka Edokobi is a Writer , a Farmer, a Supply Chain Expert and an Entrepreneur
