November 02, (THEWILL) – The national football governing body the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that the Super Eagles will begin training in Tangier, the Moroccan port city, on November 8 for their fixture against the Liberian Leone Star squad in their 2022 World Cup qualifier.
On November 13, Liberia will “host” Nigeria for the next round of Group C World Cup qualifiers at the Grand Stade Tangier in Morocco. Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s Media Director noted on Wednesday that preparations were underway for the remaining World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde.
In addition, the Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Femi Raji, stated that the team was taking their final fixture of the World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde, scheduled for November 16 in Lagos, very seriously in order to ensure that Nigeria finishes strong from the group stage.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr stuck to his polarising decision to recall ex-Nigerian international Odion Jude Ighalo to a squad which already boasts of performing attacking options who are both young and hungry and who have answered the call to represent their country in Ighalo’s absence. Sunday Awoniyi, for instance, whose career has burst to life in the Bundesliga with Union Berlin was left out to accommodate Ighalo’s invitation.
Also named in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers were team captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Leon Balogun, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, forwards Moses Simon and Victor Osumhen, as well as 16 other players for these final pair of Group C games.
After contending against Liberia in two weeks time, the Super Eagles will return to Lagos for that final group encounter against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on November 16th.
THEWILL recalls that Nigeria leads Group C with nine points but have to work hard to continue to stay ahead of Cape Verde, who are on seven points and who host the Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo simultaneously as Nigeria take on Liberia.
Those three points against the Lone Star on the neutral turf in Morocco’s principal northern city to are extremely vital to Nigeria’s qualification chances.
Fortunately, Wilfred Ndidi, the midfield enforcer for Leicester City in England, has returned to training after missing the last set of home-and-away games against Central African Republic with a knock. Also back in contention for places in the squad are the duo Alex Iwobi of Everton and Samuel Chukwueze, of Villarreal.
Team Sheet
Goalkeepers
Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); 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); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)
Midfielders
Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
Forwards
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
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.
