The three-time African champions have finally named their squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on January 9
Nigeria's Super Eagles have named a strong 28-man squad, which includes Huesca's Kelechi Nwakalu and Union Berlin's Taiwo Awoniyi, for the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.
Almeria striker Sadiq Umar and in-form Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis are also included. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the 28-man list on Saturday afternoon.
Both Kelechi Nwakali and Sadiq Umar will be hoping to make their debuts in the tournament, while Awoniyi and Dennis have been rewarded for their good form this season.
Awoniyi earned his only cap as a sub in the 1-0 loss to the Central African Republic last October. Meanwhile, Dennis has not played for the team since the 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone last year.
However, both players are back in the squad after a brilliant start to the season at their respective clubs. Awoniyi has scored 14 goals and recorded three assists in 27 games for Union Berlin this season.
At the same time, Dennis has had a brilliant start to life at Vicarage Road, with seven goals and five assists in 15 league games for Watford.
Meanwhile, the usual suspects are also in the squad. Victor Osimhen is included despite his facial injury. Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi have also been called-up.
But there's no place for Venezia's Tyronne Ebuehi, although Olisa Ndah of Orlando Pirates got his maiden call-up to the team.
There's also a spot for one player from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), and that's John Noble of Enyimba.
The Super Eagles begin their AFCON Campaign with a clash against the Pharaohs of Egypt on January 11.
SUPER EAGLES' SQUAD FOR 33RD AFCON CAMEROON 2021
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England)
A good one, but what happened to Calvin Bassey
this is wrong where is Calvin bassey, amoo and akpoguma. Why on Earth is Noble on this list
This isn’t right, why on Earth is Calvin bassey and akpoguma. Why is Noble on the time is not even playing frist team football he is a second goalkeeper
Moses Simon and Amed Musa are big waste to the team. Not even good for training. Only good for bench which is waste .
What on earth is Ighalo doing there?
You guys should leave the list alone, what we should be talking about is to get good coach that will give us the AFCON, because we all know NFF has given us reason to at list smile by letting Mr Rohr go, another request of Nigerians now is to get us good coach that would return our National team that other nations use to fear.
NFF made a big error, this errors appeard about exculding Amoo,Ejaria, Akpoguma, Tyronne Ebuehi, Lookman and recalled Ekong, Balogun, Shehu, Musa, Oneyka, Akpeyi, thoes players are shaky, weak, lazy havn’t any soul and enthusiasm for Nigeria jersey , the play without philosophy .NFF intend to lift this cup , I ask where are the factors and infarstrectures to lift or win this trophy ? with thoes bad players who can be a debit against SE on this tournament. NFF should have to exclude thoes weak, shaky, unoperative players who will be a debit and deduction against SE.
Let’s pray and support our great team, with mistake or no mistake all what we know now is a good results
Let’s just pray for the list. After all if you bring the likes of Messi’s from goalkeeper to striker without God’s help they will just go and crash. REMEMBER, THE RACE IS NOT FOR THE SWIFT, BATTLE IS NOT TO THE STRONG NOR FAVOR TO MEN OF SKILL… Ecclesiastes 9:11
Just call for one powerful man of God to Pray and release strength upon them. They will go and come back with the trophy