Six Young Nigerian Players Expected Not To Make AFCON Squad But Part Of The Super Eagles Henceforth

1. Samuel Chukwueze

The Villarreal winger has been named in the Flying Eagles' provisional squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland which begins on May 23.

Many Nigerian fans hope the former Golden Eaglets star who was the third best player at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup which Nigeria won for a record fifth time plays at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt rather than at the U-20 World Cup.

Chukwueze is attracting the interests of big clubs in Europe and is expected to get even better.

2. Kelechi Nwakali

Arsenal youngster at loan at Porto B side Kelechi Nwakali who was captain of the title winning Golden Eaglets side of 2015 and is now the vice captain of the U-23 national team should be at least a bit part player in the Super Eagles until he  moves to a club where he plays regularly.

Nwakali has only played  once for Nigeria in a friendly against Atletico Madrid in which he scored a scorcher that flew past Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak.

3. Azubuike Okechukwu

Azubuike Okechukwu is the current captain of the U-23 Eagles. He was also in the U-23 Eagles team to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro where Nigeria won the bronze medal.

Head coach of the Super Eagles Gernot Rohr hinted in Asaba when the team played against Seychelles and Egypt (where the U-23 Eagles also squared up with Libya in a CAF U-23 AFCON qualifier) that Azubuike is a potential Super Eagles player in the near future.

The defensive midfielder takes no prisoners and is just too strong and combative not to have in the Eagles that will face physical African opposition in the 2021 AFCON and 2022 World Cup qualifiers as well as the mooted African Nations League after the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

4. Stephen Odey

Former MFM FC of Lagos striker Stephen Odey has been in splendid form for Swiss side FC Zurich this season with nine goals scored so far in 28 league games.

Promisingly he started in 23 of those matches and was also impressive in the group stages of the Europa League.

The Super Eagles need new blood in the attack and based on current form and consistency, Odey who has only one cap for Nigeria deserves more.

5. Uche Agbo

Nigeria defender Uche Agbo was always invited by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr during the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup but was never featured in any of those matches.

The Rayo Vallecano player who is comfortable either as a defender or defensive midfielder would add value to the national team mainly due to his versatility and superb ball distribution.

Not playing him for any match(es) he is invited will never make him a bad player because the national team coach hasn't given him a chance to impress.

Rohr should give Agbo a chance. His few performances for Spanish La Liga side Vallecano are promising.

6. Victor Osimhen

Already scored 15 Pro Belgian league goals for Sporting Charleroi this season and is one of the key players in Nigeria's U-23 Eagles team, Victor Osimhen is clearly one of the best Nigerian players in Europe at the moment.

So long this form continues and his discipline and commitment tick the boxes, Osimhen who is the all time top scorer at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after his 10 goal heroics in 2015 should be in the Super Eagles team either at the AFCON in Egypt or after it.

Izuchukwu Okosi