The head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle will make public his list of invited players for the world cup qualifiers games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe respectively public later this week, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
A total of 35 players received provisional invitation for both games, but that number has been trimmed to 24 and submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for scrutiny by the technical department.
We take a look at how it’s expected to be when it is made public by the NFF.
Goalkeepers: While many will like to see Adebayo Adeleye back in the team owing to his spectacular performances in Cyprus this season. It might be a bit too early for Chelle to take a decision. Per what we gathered there is a chance for Francis Uzoho who is the second choice at Omonia Nicosia to be handed a recall based on his experience. But below are the favorite trio.
GK : Stanley Nwabali (Chippa Utd) , Amass Obasogie (Singida SC) , Henry Ozoemena Ani (Enyimba).
Defenders: Like we exclusively reported yesterday. Two new faces in Igho Ogbu of Czech Republic giants Slavia Praha and Enugu Rangers center back Ifeanyi Onyebuchi will make the cut. With Semi Ajayi absent through injury. We expect the following names to make the cut.
DF: Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ola Aina, Bruno Onyemaechi, Igho Ogbu, William Troost-Ekong, Gabriel Osho, Calvin Bassey, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi.
Midfielders – Chelle will be without the services of Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru who was in the provisional list and expected to make the team before he got injured. The team picks itself in his absence but Getafe’s Uche Chrisantus will most likely be in for the first time with Southampton Joe Aribo also returning.
MF; Raphael Onyedika, Chrisantus Uche, Joe Aribo, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi.
Forwards – Spoilt for choice in this department, the coach had around ten names in the provisional list in this department including newly signed Lille forward Chuba Akpom. However the favourite seven are the names listed below.
Forwards: Nathan Tella, Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Paul Onuachu.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
