Iwobi, Omeruo, Chukwueze, Iheanacho Heading To South Africa As Rohr Announces AFCONQ Roster; Obi Mikel Omitted

Published: October 29, 2018

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has announced the players who will be on the plane to Johannesburg for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa on November 17.

The Nigeria Football Federation also confirmed on Monday afternoon that the Super Eagles will tackle the Cranes of Uganda in an international friendly on November 20.

Rohr has named a 23-man squad consisting of 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 3 midfielders and 9 strikers for the two international games.

Villarreal young star Samuel Chukwueze is in line to make his senior debut after receiving his first call up to the Super Eagles but experienced midfielder Obi Mikel has been omitted.

Chelsea loanees Kenneth Omeruo and Ola Aina, Arsenal's Alex Iwobi, Rotherham United's Semi Ajayi, Brighton's Leon Balogun, Stoke City's Oghenekaro Etebo, Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho and Watford's Isaac Success have all been named in the squad.

Apart from Adeleye Aniyikaye (FC IfeanyiUbah) and Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Rohr decided to forego home-based players.

Everton loanee Henry Onyekuru and Porto's Chidozie Awaziem are among the five players placed on standby.

Nigeria Roster

Goalkeepers (3): Francis Uzoho (Elche FC, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

Defenders (8): Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Adeleye Aniyikaye (FC IfeanyiUbah); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)

Midfielders (3): Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal FC, Portugal)

Forwards (9): Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)

Standby: Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Nyima Nwagua (Kano Pillars FC); Sunday Adetunji (Enyimba FC); Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars FC)

Igho Kingsley