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| Gernot Rohr |
Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has invited 24 players to the Super Eagles’ camp ahead of next week’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
Turkey –based midfielder Ogenyi Onazi topped the list made available on Wednesday, with Elderson Echiejile, Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo also called.
South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi joins home –based professional Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Portugal –based Dele Alampasu to contest for the gloves, with William Ekong, Chidozie Awaziem, Abdullahi Shehu, Tyronne Ebuehi and Zamalek FC of Egypt’s Maroof Youssef joining Omeruo and Echiejile at the rear.
England –based Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu, Mikel Agu and Akwa United’s former junior international Alhassan Ibrahim join Onazi in the midfield. Musa is joined at the fore by Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Henry Onyekuru, Olanrewaju Kayode and Victor Osimhen.
All invited players are expected in Abuja on Friday, 2ndJune with the team to train on Monday, 5th June before departing to Uyo on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles trade tackles with the Bafana Bafana at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 10th June 2017, starting from 5pm.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal)
Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); William Ekong (KAA Gent, Belgium); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Maroof Youssef (Zamalek FC, Egypt)
Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United FC)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Henry Onyekuru (KAS Eupen, Belgium); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany); Olanrewaju Kayode (FK Austria Wien, Austria)
The Super Eagles will also on Thursday, 1st June 2017 trade tackles against the Hawks of Togo in an international friendly in Paris.
Coach Gernot Rohr is using Thursday’s game, just like last Friday’s session against Corsica Island in Ajaccio, as preparation for next weekend’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in Uyo.
The match against the Hawks will be played at the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret, Paris starting from 7pm (6pm Nigeria time).
Forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored from the spot to level scores (1-1) against Corsica on Friday, is one of 20 players in the Eagles’ Hyatt Regency Hotel camp in Paris, and who have been training in the French capital ahead of Thursday’s game.
Goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Alampasu, defenders Elderson Echiejile, William Ekong, Chidozie Awaziem, Tyronne Ebuehi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Mikel Agu, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alhassan Ibrahim and Uche Agbo, and strikers Ahmed Musa, Stephen Odey, Victor Osimhen, Henry Onyekuru, Alex Iwobi, Olanrewaju Kayode and Sikiru Olatubosun are the others.
Thursday’s match will be the 17th clash between both West African countries at senior level, with Nigeria having won nine of the previous 16 clashes. Togo won in three, while four matches were drawn.
The first match between both countries at senior level took place on 6th October 1956. Albert Onyeanwuna (of blessed memory) scored the game’s only goal, with Nigeria’s roster also including the likes of Dan Anyiam, Sam Ibiam, Asuquo Ekpe and Cyril Asoluka. Paul ‘Wonder Boy’ Hamilton (also of blessed memory) scored the one goal in each of two friendlies in Lagos in 1966.
Nigeria’s biggest win over Togo remains the 4-2 scoreline in a 1968 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Lagos in April 1967, but Nigerians will never forget the 5-2 hiding by the Hawks in a WAFU Cup match in Abidjan in December 1983.
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