By Akinwale Kasali
It is no surprise that Al Shabab Football Club of Saudi Arabia striker, Odion Ighalo has been called back from retirement to the Super Eagles team to face Liberia and the Blue Sharks Of Cape Verde in the crucial Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Ighalo had called it quits with the National team after the Super Eagles Third Place finish at the 2019 African Cup of Nations Championship in Egypt. But Coach Gernot Rohr had not stopped persuading him to return to the team.
He has now heeded to the voice of the Franco-German tactician to add his wealth of experience to the younger attackers in the Super Eagles frontline.
Rohr released a list of 24-players including Ighalo and Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa leading the pack of European based players invited.
Villarreal Football Club of Spain midfielder, Samuel Chukwueze, Leicester City defensi midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, Hoffenheim Fiotball Club defender, Kevin Akpoguma and Everton Football Club midfielder, Alex Iwobi, all made a return to the team, having missed the double header against Central African Republic.
The Super Eagles will tackle the Lone Star of Liberia at the Grand Stade Tangier in Morocco on Saturday, 13th November and then fly into Lagos for the final group game against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday, 16th November.
Top of their group with nine points but hotly chased by seven-pointer Cape Verde who host Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo, the Eagles need the three points against the Lone Star on the neutral turf of Morocco’s principal northern city to remain on firm ground when hosting the Blue Sharks three days later in Nigeria’s commercial and industrial capital.
The invited players and overseas-based members of the technical crew are to report directly to the city of Tangier on Monday, 8th November while technical officials from Nigeria are to report in Tangier the same day.
The invited players are: Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
Some sections of Football fans have applauded the invitation of Ighalo, saying his wealth of experience will help the younger striker.
Femi Oyebanjo, a Super Eagles supporter said the invitation of Ighalo will further create competitiveness among the likes of Onuachu, Iheanacho and Osimhen.
“Our attack will be more solidified and this will make everyone sit tight and battle for places in the team. He has the experience that will propel us on achieving victory and been at the world fiesta”, he said.
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