Confirmed: NFF snubs foreign stars, names 18 home-based players for Costa Rica friendly

The former African champions will lock horns with the former CONCACAF kings in an international friendly next week

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has announced the names of 18 players that will represent the country in the international friendly with Costa Rica on November 10.

None of Nigeria’s numerous foreign stars made the list.

Instead, all 18 players are from clubs playing in the Nigerian Professional Football League.

In the statement released on Friday, the NFF confirmed that Super Eagles assistant head coach Salisu Yusuf picked the players on the roster.

Familiar faces on the list include Super Eagles B goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, Olympic Eagles first-choice shot-stopper Nathaniel Nwosu and midfielder Afeez Nosiru.

Others are defenders Daniel Bameyi, Chidiebere Nwobodo, Evans Ogbonda, midfielders Nosiru, Qudus Akanni, and forwards Sunday Faleye and Edidiong Ezekiel.

The Eagles have been training at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan for the past week and are scheduled to jet out of the country for Costa Rica on Saturday, November 5.

The match between Nigeria and Costa Rica – the first-ever meeting between the two former continental champions – is billed for the National Stadium in San Jose.

SUPER EAGLES FOR COSTA RICA

Kayode Bankole
Nathaniel Nwosu
Daniel Bameyi
Samuel Kalu
Chidiebere Nwobodo
Mustapha Jibrin
Evans Ogbonda
Afeez Nosiru
Samson Paul
Daniel Wotlai
Ezekiel Edidiong
Dominion Ohaka
Qudus Akanni
Shina Akinniran
Sunday Faleye
Jerry Alex
Isaiah Ejeh
Suleiman Garba