Nigeria squad announcement : Leicester, Fulham, Everton, Glasgow Rangers stars in; Reading's Olise standby

Published: March 09, 2021

The Nigeria Football Federation have announced a 24-man squad list for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho.

An analysis of the roster revealed that three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders and eight strikers have been handed invitations to the national team.

Five English Premier League stars in the shape of Fulham's Ola Aina, Leicester City duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, West Brom's Semi Ajayi and Everton's Alex Iwobi are set to add to their international caps as they have all been named in the squad.

The other British-based players listed are Glasgow Rangers duo Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun, and Watford center back William Troost-Ekong.

Captain Ahmed Musa has also been called up along with fit-again 2015 U17 World Cup winners - Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.

One of the novelties on the standby list is Reading rising star Michael Olise, who is also eligible to represent the French and English national teams, and has played non-binding games for the former.

There is a first time call-up for Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble and in-form Almeria striker Sadiq Umar.

Nigeria will face Benin at the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto-Novo on March 27 and wrap up their schedule three days later against Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

Nigeria Squad

Goalkeepers (3): Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED), Francis Uzoho (Apoel Nicosia/CYP), John Noble (Enyimba)

Defenders (8): William Ekong (Watford/ENG), Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes/SPA), Leon Balogun (Rangers/SCO),Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista/POR), Jamilu Collins (Paderborn/GER), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto/POR), Ola Aina (Fulham/ENG), Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente/NED)

Midfielders (5):Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City/ENG), Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray/TUR), Shehu Abdullahi (Omonia Nicosia/CYP), Joe Aribo (Rangers/SCO), Semi Ajayi (West Brom/ENG)

Forwards (8): Ahmed Musa (no club), Moses Simon (FC Nantes/FRA), Alex Iwobi (Everton/ENG), Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux/FRA), Victor Osimhen (Napoli /ITA), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City/ENG), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF/SPA), Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria/SPA)

Standby: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs/RSA), Paul Onuachu (Genk/BEL), Terem Moffi (FC Lorient), Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray/TUR), Michael Olise (Reading/ENG), Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague/Czech), Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors)

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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