BEVERLY HILLS, May 25, (THEWILL) – Two weeks ago, Gernot Rohr, the German handler of the senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, released a provisional squad list of 31 players invited to camp for the Friday June 4 international friendly against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, which, as THEWILL reported, was to be trimmed down before the match.
From that initial squad list, the number was slashed to 22, when nine players were left out of the team to prosecute the prestigious international friendly match, which is billed to take place at 7:30pm Nigerian time, at the Wiener Neustadt in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
In realising the final list, the Nigerian Football Federation NFF did not disclose the rationale behind dropping home-based goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa of Heartland FC, defenders Kenneth Omeruo of CD Leganes, Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma , Zaidu Sanusi of FC Porto and West Bromwich Albion’s Semi Ajayi, the midfielder Joseph Aribo of Glasgow Rangers, and the strikers Sadiq Umar of Almeria, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and Galatasaray’s Henry Onyekuru.
The exclusion of Spanish-based pair of forward Chukwueze and defender Omeruo may not be unconnected to concerns about their fitness levels with neither of them being involved in the last three fixtures of their club sides, though Chukwueze was seen with the first team squad in practice and may be considered by Villarreal manager, Unai Emery, for the UEFA Europa League final against Man U.
Apart from exclusions, there were surprise inclusions in the final list of the players to fly the country’s flag in the friendly against the Indomitable Lions. The first of players brought in is Frank Onyeka, FC Midtjylland midfielder while Galatasaray center-back Valentine Ozornwafor also got added to the final group.
In all, the total number of players invited for the friendly was trimmed down to a more manageable 22, and padded to become 24 with two inclusions for a team comprising three goalkeepers, six defenders, five midfielders and ten strikers, who will face Cameroon, the 2021 AFCON hosts.
The full final squad:
GOALKEEPERS (3):
Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
DEFENDERS (6):
Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, The Netherlands); Valentine Ozornwafor (Galatasaray, Turkey)
MIDFIELDERS (5):
Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosa, Cyprus); Frank Onyeka ( FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Abraham Marcus (CD Feirense, Portugal)
FORWARDS (10):
Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars FC); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Simy Nwankwo (Crotone FC, Italy)
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
