The list of the Nigeria U23 team for the game against Sudan which is the first leg of the final round of qualifiers for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations had seven foreign based players in the final 18 man squad.
Owngoalnigeria.com takes a look at the players and how they have performed this season for their respective clubsides in Europe prior to the invitation to the senior national team of Nigeria.
1. Collins Ogbodo ( AD Oliveirense/Lusitano FCV) – His invitation came as a surprise with many saying he gatecrash and impressed during training. The midfielder who was formerly on the books of Gil Vicente now plys his trade in Portuguese third division but his main team is still mystery . He was last on the books of AD Oliveirense but recent report suggest he plays for fellow third division side Lusitano FCV.
2. Frank Onyeka ( FC Midtjylland) – By far among the best midfielders in the Danish league the past 18 months. The former FC Ebedei prospect came to life last season with goals and assists from his position as a midfielder, right winger or just behind the striker. 21 year old Onyeka has played in 10 games this season, eight in the league and twice in the Europa League qualifiers.
3. Azubuike Okechukwu ( Istanbul Basaksehir) – The captain of the Nigerian team has cemented his spot as a starter for Istanbul Basaksehir in their last two games in the league after his first appearance as a substitute. So far he has played in all of the game this season in the Turkish league meaning he comes into this game fully fit.
4. Sunday Faleye ( FC Wacker Innsbruck) – It took the 20 year old a while to get going in Europe after impressing for Nigeria at the last edition of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) as a player for Shooting Stars last year. He joined FC Wacker Innsbruck before the start of this season and he has so far played in five out of the seven games they have played this season and mostly as a substitute with just 123 minutes to his name. The only game he has lasted the entire duration was for the B team in the Regionalliga League.
5. Taiwo Awoniyi ( FSV Mainz 05) – The king who can do no wrong in the eyes of fans of Mouscron of Belgium is yet to get going at German side FSV Mainz 05 where he is on loan from Liverpool. In the Bundesliga he has played in two of the four games they have played so far. Both games he played as a substitute with a combine time of 30 minutes spent on the pitch.
6. Stephen Odey ( Genk) – A shock move to Belgium side Genk from Swiss side FC Zurich has not yielded any positive impact yet with just 29 minutes of league football to his name. His quality is however not in doubt as he hit ten league goals for FC Zurich in 32 games last season, which convinced the Belgium champions to sign him.
7. Blessing Olabiran ( FC Tambov) – A revelation he was last season for FC Tambov in the second division but things have not been the same since their promotion to the top flight. Benito as he is called has been in and out of the starting lineup although he has played 8 games this season with one goal to his name.
