Recuperating Osimhen Leads Nigeria 28-man AFCON List
Recuperating Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, headlined Super Eagles’ 28-man squad for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to begin January 9, 2022 in Cameroon.
In the list released Saturday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, also included returnee Super Eagles forward, Odion Jude Ighalo, as well as Skipper Ahmed Musa.
The former Nigeria captain, Eguavoen, who coached the Super Eagles to third-place finish at the finals in Egypt 15 years ago, has selected four goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and 10 forwards to aim for Nigeria’s fourth diadem in Cameroon.
Also in the squad is midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, with former U17 World Cup-winning captain, Kelechi Nwakali, forward Emmanuel Dennis and 2016 Olympics star Sadiq Umar in the fold.
Goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Olaoluwa Aina and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and Chidera Ejuke and forwards Moses Simon, Ighalo and Samuel Chukwueze are also on the roster.
Eguavoen will lead the senior Nigerian team to Cameroon with the possibility of in coming Portuguese Coach, Jose Paseiro, monitoring proceed from the stands.
The three-time winners will confront seven-time and record winners Egypt, Sudan and debutants Guinea Bissau with venue in the northern town of Garoua, and a mouth-watering clash with the Pharaohs in the group opener on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 means the Eagles must hit the ground at a blistering pace.
All invited players, bar the UK-based crew, are expected to arrive in camp in the Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja, on 29th December, with the UK-based players expected to start arriving on Monday, 3rd January.
THE INVITED SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); and 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); and Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa).
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); and Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); and Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England).
Credit: ThisDay
