The Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, has released the names of players he will use to prosecute the AFCON 2021 qualifier against Benin Republic and Lesotho.
The list which has 3 goalkeepers, 7 defenders, 5 midfielders and 6 strikers was confirmed from the NFF’s Twitter handle. Six more players were placed on standby including the currently on-fire Paul Onuachu who has painted the German Bundesliga with goals. This has elicited reactions from the Nigerian public with some insisting he should have been in the main squad ahead of players like Ahmed Musa who has been without a club after parting ways with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in October 2020. Also included was Enyimba’s goal keeper, John Noble. Sadiq Umar merits his first call-up to the senior team having scored 22 goals and 7 assists in 41 appearances in all competitions this season for Spanish club, Almeria.
Looking at the above issues, one would think that Ahmed Musa was invited because he is and remains till date the captain of the Super Eagles.
Paul Onuachu may not have been included in the team because of the psychological angle to football. Players react differently to situations. Onuachu shone brilliantly on his debut with that stunning 30-yards ferocious thunderbolt. Since then, he has struggled to stay afloat and one would think he is piling pressure on his young shoulders because of the accolades he received on his debut.
The full list is as follows:
Goal keepers: Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and John Nobble
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, Chigozie Awaziem, Jamilu Collins, Zaidu Sanusi, Ola Aina and Tyronne Ebuehi
Midfielders: Wifred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Semi Ajayi, Shehu Abdullahi and Joe Aribo
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar
Standby: Paul Onuachu, Peter Olayinka, Terem Moffi, Michael Olise, Daniel Akpeyi and Henry Onyekuru have been named on the standby list according to Goal.com
Match details for the double header is as follows:
Benin vs Nigeria
Date: Saturday, 27th March, 2021
Venue: Charles de Gaulle Stadium, Porto Novo
Kick-off: 5pm
Nigeria vs Lesotho
Date: Saturday, 30th March, 2021
Venue: Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos
Kick-off: 5pm
Azuka Edokobi is a Writer , a Farmer, a Supply Chain Expert and an Entrepreneur
