The list of players who will prosecute the Super Eagles upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers games against Libya is expected to be made public next week, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Interim coach Austine Eguavoen has already sent out provisional invitation to around 35 players for the double header scheduled for the 11th and 15th of October, with Nigeria keen on solidifying their position as group leaders after starting their campaign with a 3-0 win over Benin Republic and a 0-0 draw away to Rwanda.
Eguavoen will reduced the number of players called up to a manageable number of 24, but some players having a very good start to the season are not expected to be in the list as they are not in the plans of the coach.
Josh Maja – Capped once by Nigeria in 2019 when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Ukraine in a friendly game. Maja has started the season like a house on fire with seven goals in his first seven games of the season for West Brom in the English Championship, but he is not expected to be in the squad for both games.
Cyriel Dessers – Found the back of the net the last time he started which was against Ghana in a friendly game in March. He is yet to be capped by Nigeria at competitive level and despite boasting of five goals in 11 games for Rangers in all competitions this season, he isn’t expected to add to his six caps for Nigeria.
Kevin Akpoguma – The former German youth international hasn’t had the best of times in the colours of Nigeria, as previous coaches of the team including Gernot Rohr who convinced him to switch nationality not quite sold out on playing him as a regular. However his club form has been stellar and this season at Hoffenheim he has played in all of their five games, but he is still not in contention to add to his eight caps for Nigeria.
Jordan Torunarigha – He was capped once and subsequently binned. He has put behind the disappointment of missing out on a summer move away from Gent he has buckled down and now has a permanent spot in the team. However the former Germany youth International is not anywhere near to a recall.
Gabriel Osho – Now at French Ligue 1 side Auxerre. Osho was handed his first invitation in March for the friendly games against Ghana and Mali respectively, but couldn’t honor it due to a knock picked up while on duty with his ex side Luton Town. At Auxerre he has been ever present but a second chance with the Super Eagles isn’t on the cards.