Super Eagles coach and technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has invited 24 players in preparation for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying battles with the Benin Republic and Lesotho scheduled for March 27 and March 30 respectively.
The list of players invited for the double-header included captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Victor Osimhen.
A statement issued by Ademola Olajire, Director of Media and Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said the Super Eagles who are top of Group E log with eight points would be hosted by the Squirrels of Benin Republic on March 27, in Porto Novo.
The list, which was released on Tuesday morning had first-time call-ups for in-form Almeria striker, Sadiq Umar, and Enyimba goalkeeper, John Noble.
Nigeria, which topped the group with eight points (one point ahead of Benin Republic and five more than third-place Sierra Leone), will tackle the Squirrels away at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo on Saturday, 27th March and lock horns with the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos three days later.
Other players include Enyimba FC goalkeeper John Noble; defenders Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo and Olaoluwa Aina; midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze.
The versatile Abdullahi Shehu is listed as a midfielder this time and there is a first senior call for Spain –based forward Sadiq Umar.
Seven players, including long–time goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, are on standby.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, The Netherlands)
Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosa, Cyprus); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Sadiq Umar (Almeria FC, Spain); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Kalu (FC Girondins Bordeaux, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
Standby: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Michael Olise (Reading FC, England); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors)
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