NFF Releases 23-Man List For Brazil Friendly

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has released a list of 23 players that will trade tackles with the Brazilian National team at the Singapore International Stadium, Singapore, on 13th October, 2019.

Coach Gernot Rohr had earlier hinted that he was going to give new players that are performing in their various European club sides chances in his squad.

Surprisingly, he has given a call up to Peter Olayinka, who plays for Slavia Prague Football Club in the Czech Republic league and Azeez Ramon of Granada Football Club, who is making a return to the national team since 2014.

Azeez who scored against Barcelona Football Club last weekend in his team’s 2-0 win over the Blaugranian side of Catalunya.

Azeez was part of the late Stephen Keshi’s coach Super Eagles team that represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Olayinka, Azeez, Wilfried Ndidi, Abdullahi Shehu and Kenneth Omeruo are the new players that joined the team that played Ukraine last month in Dnipro, Ukraine in an international friendly that ended 2-2.

Kelechi Iheanacho, Bryan Idowu and Josh Maja were excluded from the Brazil friendly, having received a call up for the Ukrainian friendly.

The goalkeeping department remain unchanged, with Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye still in between the sticks.

Chidozie Awaziem, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, William Troost Ekong, Leon Balogun, Olaoluwa Aina, Jamilu Collins, Kenneth Omeruo and Abdullahi Shehu completing the defense line up.

In the midfield, Joe Ayodele-Aribo who scored in his debut received a call up alongside Anderson Esiti, Oghenekaro Etebo, Ramon Azeez, Wilfried Ndidi and Alex Iwobi.

The best dribbler in Europe at the moment, Samuel Kalu, leads the Super Eagles attack with Lille Metropole Football Club striker, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, Emmanuel Dennis Bonaventure and Peter Olayinka complete the Super Eagles attacking force.