Forecasting Nigeria's 35-Man World Cup Roster Ahead Of Its Release

On Monday, May 14, Nigeria manager, Gernot Rohr is expected to hand in his 35-man provisional roster for the Russia World Cup and it is likely to have a lot riding on it.

The German could be forced into making tough decisions as some of the valuable team members like Oghenekaro Etebo, Wilfred Ndidi and Tyronne Ebuehi are still on the mend with their respective club sides while the likes of Joel Obi and Henry Onyekuru are recuperating from severe injuries.

Here, allnigeriasoccer.com would try to visualize what the 64-year old's list would look like, putting into account the importance of each player to the team, even if he would have to make the inevitable call of including some of his crocked stars in the roster.

In the goalkeeper department, Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa are more than likely to be the called up goaltenders having been the preferred choices under Rohr.

Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Elderson Echiejile, Kenneth Omeruo, Brian Idowu, Ola Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Tyronne Ebuehi are the defenders that could feature prominently on the list, all having either featured for the team in either the qualifiers leading up to the tournament or in one of the tuneup games for its preparations.

In the engine room of the team — the midfield, Rohr is set to call on players like Mikel John Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Uche Agbo, Wilfred Ndidi, Joel Obi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Mikel Agu to compete for the middle of the park duties.

Then further forward would see players the likes of Victor Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo, Moses Simon, Junior Ajayi vie for attacking slots of the team.

While one or two less familiar names could be glimpsed, CHAN Eagles stars, Stephen Eze and Gabriel Okechukwu who were not afforded run-outs after their invitations for the Poland/Serbia games could return.

Anthony Nwakaeme or Brown Ideye could return as well as Olanrewaju Kayode and then Crotone's Simeon Nwankwo who has staked a case with his latest streak of form could also join the team.

Hibernian's Efe Ambrose seems forgotten though the defender has been instrumental for his Scottish club this season, he played twice during the preliminary stages of Nigeria's world cup qualification campaign.