PRE-WORLD CUP
- Another chance for injured Moses Simon
- Lokosa, Ajiboye, two others dropped
Duro Ikhazuagbe
The picture of Nigeria’s squad to the
World Cup in Russia became crystal clear yesterday following the release
of a 25-man Super Eagles list by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Expectedly, the list was dominated by
the usual suspects who have established their presence in the team since
Franco-German Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr took charge of the senior
Nigerian football team in 2016.
Captain John Mikel Obi is leading the
squad which is arguably Nigeria’s youngest team ever to the Mundial.
Also in the list are the likes of Assistant Captain, Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed
Musa and Kenneth Omeruo. The quartet are the remnant of the Stephen
Keshi’s Eagles to the last World Cup in Brazil four years ago.
Chelsea wing back, Victor Moses who did
not feature in the tune-up game with DR Congo last Monday in Port
Harcourt is to link up with the squad in London today for another
warm-up game against the Three Lions of England at Wembley Stadium on
Saturday evening.
Enyimba FC’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa who took
charge of the goal area after Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with Leukeamia is
the only player from the domestic league in the Russia-bound team. The
other goalkeepers selected are Deportivo La Coruna’s Francis Uzoho and
Daniel Akpeyi of South Africa’s Chippa United.
Abdullahi Shehu, Olaoluwa Aina, Tyronne
Ebuehi, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Chidozie Awaziem, Elderson
Echiejile, Kenneth Omeruo, and Bryan Idowu make up the list of defenders
Rohr will rely upon to shield his goal area from any harm.
The midfield have Mikel, Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi, John Ogu, Mikel Agu, Joel Obi and Oghenekaro Etebo.
Musa, Moses, Alex Iwobi, Simy Nwankwo,
Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon make up Eagles strike force to battle
Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in the group stage of Russia 2018.
Moses Simon, who was earlier ruled out
of the finals due to injury, will undergo further medical checks in the
United Kingdom to ascertain the seriousness of his injury.
Plateau United’ goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye,
NPFL leading scorer, Junior Lokosa, Bulgaria-based defender Stephen Eze
and Uche Agbo of Standard Liege were the players who were eventually
dropped from the trip to England to end their World Cup aspiration.
Rohr was reported to have met with the
players one-on-one to inform them of his decision before the final list
of 25 players was announced yesterday.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles who flew out of
the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja yesterday afternoon are to train at
the Wembley Stadium (venue of Saturday’s clash with England’s Three
Lions) between 5pm-6pm on Friday, after a pre-match press conference
scheduled for the Stadium’s conference room at 4.15pm.
Saturday’s encounter, the third official
match between two countries with considerable historical affinity, will
start at 5.15pm Nigerian time.
THE TEAM
GOALKEEPERS: Francis Uzoho; Daniel Akpeyi; Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
DEFENDERS: Abdullahi
Shehu; Olaoluwa Aina; Tyronne Ebuehi; William Ekong; Leon Balogun;
Chidozie Awaziem; Elderson Echiejile; Kenneth Omeruo; Bryan Idowu.
MIDFIELDERS: Wilfred Ndidi; Mikel John Obi; Ogenyi Onazi; John Ogu; Mikel Agu; Oghenekaro Etebo; Joel Obi
FORWARDS: Odion Ighalo;
Simeon Nwankwo; Alex Iwobi; Ahmed Musa; Kelechi Iheanacho. Moses Simon
(further checks in the UK); Victor Moses (to join team in London)
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