By Akinwale Kasali
Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr is not leaving any stone unturned as he prepares his team for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification series.
The Franco-German tactician has called up 30 players for the September opening rounds of the qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde.
Nigeria will host Liberia in Lagos on September 3 and visit Cape Verde in Mindelo on September 7.
A statement by Ademola Olajire, spokesman for the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), said Rohr had stuck largely with his dependables in this list.
“Goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, as well as defenders William Ekong, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, and Leon Balogun, are on this list of players,” the NFF stated. ”We also have midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, and Victor Osimhen on the roster,” he said.
Olajire, however, disclosed that the situation with the team’s UK-based players, who may not be heading to Cape Verde, had enlarged the roster.
Cape Verde is on the red list of the UK with regards to the global coronavirus pandemic.
“Should the situation remain unchanged, in terms of the matter of exemptions, the eight UK-based players on the list will head back to base after the clash with Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Friday,” he explained.
The team’s 30-player list saw a return for South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Kevin Akpoguma, and Greece-based forward Henry Onyekuru.
Former junior international Kingsley Michael was also called up, as Innocent Bonke from Sweden joined the Nigerian camp for the first time.
The Super Eagles, featuring in six of the last seven FIFA World Cup finals, host the Lone Star of Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. The match is scheduled for September 3, with the kick-off set at 5:00 p.m.
They, then, travel to the Island of Mindelo to tango with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on Match Day 2 of the series on September 7.
Central African Republic (CAR) is the other team in the group, and they will line up for home-and-away encounters with the Super Eagles in October.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); 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: Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Samuel Kalu (FC Bordeaux, France); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium)
SEVEN OTHERS ON STANDBY: Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Innocent Bonke (Malmo FF, Sweden); Valentine Ozornwafor (Sporting Charleroi, Belgium); Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy); Kingsley Michael (Bologna FC, Italy)
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