A few Nigerian stars will be making their international debuts when the African giants take on the Concacaf kings in next month’s friendly
Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has invited 25 players all drawn from the Nigerian Professional Football League for Nigeria’s friendly encounter versus Mexico on July 4.
There is no single Europe-based star on the list, with national team regulars such as captain Ahmed Musa, vice-captain William Troost-Ekong, and Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, as well as Genk’s Paul Onuachu all missing.
All of them were available when the three-time African champions traded tackles with Cameroon across two friendly matches earlier this month.
Instead, coach Rohr has put his trust in goalkeepers John Noble and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, as well as exciting Enyimba winger Anayo Iwuala.
Also invited are Rivers’ United ace Ifeanyi Anaemena, Enyimba FC midfielder Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers International) and Stephen Jude (Kwara United).
Nigeria take on Mexico, the CONCACAF Gold Cup holders, at the famous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the State of California, the United States of America, on July 4th.
Earlier, Mexico coach Gerard Martino announced a 45-man list of players expected to participate in the country’s MexTour Series that will see them play three matches before clashing with Nigeria.
Nigeria squad list
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); John Noble (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Olisa Ndah (Akwa United); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors); Tope Olusesi (Rangers International); Ifeanyi Anaemena (Rivers United); Christopher Nwaeze (Kwara United); Enyinnaya Kazie (Rivers United); Mohammed Zirkiflu (Plateau United); Imoh Ubot (Enyimba FC); Tebo Franklin Degaulle (Nasarawa United); Lawal Oriyomi Murtala (Kwara United)
Midfielders: Anthony Shimaga (Rangers International); Seth Mayi (Akwa United); Uche Nwasonaya (Plateau United); Samuel Nnoshiri (Katsina United); Ekundayo Ojo (Enyimba FC)
Forwards: Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Stephen Jude (Kwara United); Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers International); Charles Ashimene (Akwa United); Chinonso Ezekwe (Rangers International); Auwalu Ali Malam (Kano Pillars); Neurot Emmanuel (Plateau United); Abdulmutalif Sanusi (Katsina United).
This post was last modified on June 21, 2021 5:17 am
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It is a good test for the home boys,but it will be better to mix with regular players of the super eagles.
Thia is what Nigeria want, you guys love to disgrace yourself, let's see what your local players will do well, the only problem is that Rohr will be in trouble if they don't win mean while you guys pushed him to work with local players.
That wasn't actually true. Do you think he wanted to do this? No. The foreign players are not going to be available to play in that match. And that is what force him to go with home based professionals alone.
The game is outside the fifa window for friendly matches. it would be tough for players in pre season camp to leave to play a friendly thus the addition of Home based players. no vex for am.
I hope they prove themselves
Prove fire
Opportunity to try some guys in Europe that we think should be In the super eagle is blown away. It like rohr is really a Nigerian type of blood group person in thinking .
Opportunity for home base to show their talents. They must be very serious, as for experience, not guaranteed.
I love it this way they should be giving home ground players opportunity to prove there self's to encourage them
Then why is musa not in the list... too much politics in football
Seth Mayi, I am wishing you success and also the rest of the home-base players.
There is no harm in trying. Nigerian could discover some thing good from this boz you no
This is nonsense. Nigeria is doomed cos i dont see any reason why nigeria abroad base cant play. Infact strikers are meant to be: Ihenacho, Osihmen, Onachu, Simon, Chukwueze, Ahmed Musa and Kalu. Midfielders are meant to be : Wilfred ndidi, Iwobi, Aribo, Etebo, Eberechi Eze and Moffi Terem. Defenders are meant to be Shehu, Collins, Awaziem, Balogun, Troost ekong, and Keeper: Ezenwa and Uzoho. Those peeople can make nigeria proud