Nigeria Handed Boost As Ibini Is Left Out Of Australia Provisional World Cup Roster

Former Club Brugge winger Bernie Ibini-Isei will not make his competitive debut for Australia at the World Cup after he was left out of their provisional roster announced today.

Born in Port Harcourt to Nigerian parents, Ibini-Isei has earned two caps for the Australians, both coming in friendly matches against United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which makes him eligible to represent the Super Eagles.

The Football Federation Australia are in pole position ahead of their Nigerian counterparts for the services of Bernie's sister, Princess Ibini-Isei of Sydney FC, as she has three seniors caps to her name at the age of eighteen.

Prior to Bernie Ibini-Isei's debut for Australia's senior team, he turned out for the U20 and Olympic Teams.

Now at Major League Soccer outfit Vancouver Whitecaps, he previously represented Central Coast Mariners, Shanghai Dongya, Blacktown City and Sydney FC.

Caltex Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk has named six new faces in a 32-man provisional roster, with Millwall's Tim Cahill the headline name and he'll join a group of players to have scored in four different World Cups if he finds the net in Russia 2018.


Australia's Provisional World Cup Roster

Goalkeepers: Brad Jones, Mitch Langerak, Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic.

Defenders: Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Matthew Jurman, Fran Karacic, James Meredith, Josh Risdon, Trent Sainsbury, Aleksandar Susnjar, Bailey Wright.

Midfielders: Josh Brillante, Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Robbie Kruse, Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, James Troisi.

Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Tim Cahill, Apostolos Giannou, Tomi Juric, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos, Nikita Rukavytsya.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : worldfootball.net