Owngoalnigeria.com has gotten the list of foreign based players who have been called up to the Nigeria U23 team for their upcoming Africa U23 Cup of Nations Qualifiers game against Libya.
Coach Imama Amapakabo has already spoken with some of the players he want to use for the game and about five of them have already assured him of their availability for the game against Libya later this month.
Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal that Perugia duo of Kingsley Michael and Sadiq Umar who are on loan to the Serie B side from Bologna and Roma respectively have assured the coach of their availability for the game.
Villarreal teen sensation Samuel Chukwueze has also assured the coach that he will be in camp ahead of the game just like his former U17 teammate Orji Okonkwo who now plays in the United States of America on loan from Serie A side Bologna.
Spezia wing forward David Okereke who is heavily linked with a summer move to Juventus has also had talks with Imama, same as Bede Okpara who is already in the camp of the team.
The shock name in the list is Blessing Muyiwa Olabiran who was born in Ivory Coast to Nigerian parents and now plays for Russian second division side FC Tambov where he is well known with his nickname Benito.
Owngoalnigeria.com first broke the news of his call up to the Nigeria U23 team and the left footed forward has confirmed his readiness to play in both legs of the qualifiers against Libya.
Stephen Odey, Maduka Okoye and Taiwo Awoniyi are also rumoured to be in the list of players which will be made public soon but as at the time of filling in this report, we can’t establish if contact has been made with them.
However Lukman Zakari who was once reported to be in the list of invited foreign base players but his Latvian club FS Metta are yet to receive his invitation as at yesterday evening when we contacted them.
THE LIST :
Bede Opara ( Vilar de Perdizes)
Kingsley Michael ( Perugia)
Sadiq Umar ( Perugia)
Blessing Olabiran ( Tambov FC)
Orji Okonkwo ( Montreal Impact)
Samuel Chukwueze ( Villarreal)
David Okereke ( Spezia)