Super Eagles Franco-German manager, Gernot Rohr has released a list comprising twenty-eight(28) players expected to prosecute two of the team’s friendly games against Serbia and Poland ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
In-form All Ahly striker, Junior Ajayi was given a call ahead of the friendlies in his first ever senior invitation after ingloriously representing the Dream Team VI at the 2016 Olympics at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Rohr who’s been monitoring players’ performances from his base in Europe handed fresh calls to talented midfielder, Joel Obi, four years after his last appearance for the Super Eagles, Bulgaria-based defender who shone brightly at CHAN, Stephen Eze and his CHAN teammate and Akwa United attacker, Gabriel Okechukwu.
Rohr also handed recalls to teenage goalkeeper Francis Uzoho who’s been in top form with his Deportivo La Coruna B side after featuring twice in the senior team, keeping clean sheets in both games in the Spanish La Liga. The 18-year old former Aspire Academy goalkeeper impressed the coaching crew when he came on to replace Chippa United goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi in the Super Eagles’ 4-2 win against Argentina at Krasnodar, Russia.
Regular suspects, John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Moses and others were all listed in the 28-man team to face the European nations.
The full list of players below:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin
Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United).
