Full List: Nigeria Invite 30 Players For World Cup Qualifiers
Gernot Rohr, the Super Eagles’ technical adviser, has named a total of 30 players for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign, which begins next month with Nigeria hosting Liberia in Lagos on Friday, September 3rd (Day 1) and facing Cape Verde in Mindelo on Tuesday, September 7th (Day 2).
Goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, defenders William Ekong, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, and Leon Balogun, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, and Victor Osimhen have all been named to the squad as the race to Qatar gets underway.
The situation with UK-based players who may not be going to Cape Verde (which is on the British Government’s red list due to the global coronavirus pandemic) has widened the roster, and if the situation remains unchanged, the eight UK-based players on the list will return to base after the match against Liberia on Friday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Kevin Akpoguma, and forward Henry Onyekuru, all from South Africa, are back. As Innocent Bonke from Sweden enters the Nigerian camp for the first time, former junior international Kingsley Michael is also called.
The Super Eagles, who have appeared in six of the last seven FIFA World Cup finals, will face the Lone Star of Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Friday, September 3rd (kickoff is 5pm), before traveling to Mindelo on Tuesday, September 7th to tango with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on Day 2 of the series.
The Central African Republic is the other team in the group, and they will face the Super Eagles in a home-and-away match 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: 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)
