Former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Samson Siasia has reacted to the list of invited players for the senior national team of Nigeria World Cup qualifiers playoff games against Ghana.

Interim technical adviser of the team Austine Eguavoen named 32 players with seven on standby for the game which will take place in Cape Coast and Abuja on the 25th and 29th of March respectively.

In the list fresh call up was handed to three new players in Ademola Lookman and Akinkumi Amoo while Emmanuel Dennis, Oghenekaro Etebo, Calvin Bassey, Shehu Abdullahi, Victor Osimhen and Odion Ighalo were handed a recall.

Reacting to the list Siasia faulted the invitation of several new players by way of fresh invitation to the team or recall after missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations where Nigeria crashed out in the round of 16.

“You need to play people that understand themselves if you bring new ones it becomes difficult for them to understand themselves and play the partner you want to play,” Siasia told Brila FM.

“For me it’s not the right decision to bring new players, you are better off with the ones you know already that have been playing together and understand themselves because you have three days to practice before you go to Ghana. So for me this is not the right list.”

Condemnations continue to impede the selection of Ogenyi Onazi as a member of the Super Eagles’ 32-man provisional team to play Ghana in an Qatar 2022 World Cup play-off game later this month.

Nigeria are expected to compete for a spot at the biggest football event around the globe when they clash with Ghana in a two-legged encounter later this month

In the lead-up to the mouth-watering game, Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen announced his 2013 AFCON player as among seven players available to play in the crucial match, the move that has infuriated Super Eagles fans.

There have been four years since the last time the midfielder played for Nigeria during the 3-0 victory over Seychelles in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 29-year-old also served as an unused substitute for the Eagles in three games during the tournament of 2018 World Cup.

This year, Onazi has played a miserable 19 games in every competition, playing 946 minutes while scoring only one goal.

Despite being in the list of standby players, certain sections of the football community in Nigeria have expressed their displeasure at the list that was released by Eguavoen last Friday.

“I thought we are playing for the World Cup and not just a friendly match? What is Onazi, who many had thought had retired doing in the squad, I hope this is not what I am thinking,” a stunned Emmanuel Ajegunma sarcastically asked.

Wole Popoola, an IT technician, also expressed his disapppontment over the inclusion for Onazi even on the standby list.

“Onazi needs to understand that he has passed his prime,” he told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“Is it so difficult to get players who are still in the active league rather than those in the obscure league? I don’t find this list so convincing.”

Alexander Ehodagbe also used JEA Saprong’s quest of the Black Stars not to use players based in small leagues in Asia for the two crucial matches. He said: “I heard the Ghanaians are saying their coach should not invite players playing in the Saudi league and here we are digging out one from there. I laugh for Nigeria my country.”

“I saw on standby Ogenyi Onazi, is he still playing football? I thought he has retired,” Chinedu Eze wrote on Twitter.

Also, commenting on the Super Eagles Twitter handle, Dozie Owums said, “Eguavoen, how did Onazi make the list over Lorient’s Innocent Bonke or Denmark-based Raphael Onyedika?

Post was written by Ademetan Abayomi and was first published on his platform futbalgalore.com.ng.

Former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria John Obi Mikel says Joe Aribo should be made to play just behind the main striker in the Super Eagles set up ahead of the game against Ghana.

Looking ahead of the World Cup playoff which will take place in Ghana on the 25th of March and in Nigeria on the 29th respectively, Mikel said the major change to the lineup should be Aribo having a new role in the team.

Aribo has excelled this season playing farther up the pitch for Scottish side Rangers both in the Europa League and also the Scottish Premier League. For the Super Eagles he plays a lot deeper.

Mikel wants head coach of the Nigerian team Austine Eguavoen to hand Aribo the role currently occupied by Kelechi Iheanacho as it’s where he will be at his optimal best for Nigeria.

“Aribo plays really well for the team but he can do more if played just behind the main striker. He has goals in him and can also create as well as help start the press high up the pitch due to his energy. The team will get more from him if he is played in that role “, Mikel told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat.

Asked on if he thinks Aribo as has done well wearing the number ten jersey that he vacated following his retirement from international football, Mikel described Aribo as a modern day number ten whose primary role goes beyond picking up assists or creating chances.

“Football is constantly changing and the number ten role has also changed a lot. Aribo plays like a modern day number ten. More of helping in the transition from defence to attack. The emphasis is less on assists or creating chances. These days they also score goals”, he concluded.

The Nigeria Football Federation says head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen, will be made to defend his decision to place ex Super Eagles vice captain Ogenyi Onazi on the standby list for the team ahead of the game against Ghana.

Onazi was named by the coach on a standby list of seven players in the sqaud for the World Cup playoff games against Ghana in Cape Coast and Abuja respectively. His inclusion as expected generated lots of debates.

The former Lazio man plays in the second division in Saudi Arabia for Al-Adalah. A club he joined in January after thrice failing to relaunch his career in Europe with unsuccessful spells in Lithuania, Turkey and Denmark.

Reacting to his call up, a chieftain of the NFF says Eguavoen will be made to explain his choice as normal but the football house will beyond his explanation also investigate some allegations given as reasons behind the call up.

” As usual the NFF didn’t interfere in the list as a body hence we can ask questions about one or two players. The media too can do same. We are particularly concerned about the case of Onazi and we will demand an explanation and look into some allegations on the call up. It’s just normal for us”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

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The head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen yesterday released the list of players who will represent Nigeria in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana.

Nigeria will engage Ghana in a two legged game to determine which team qualifies for the world cup in Qatar with the first leg billed to take place in the Ghanaian city of Cape Coast on the 24th of March. The return leg will be on the 27th in Abuja.

OwnGoalNigeria.com takes a look at the two major talking points from the list.

Etebo over Bonke: Oghenekaro Etebo marked his return to fitness by playing 45 minutes for the U23s of Watford. He last kicked a ball in a competitive game on the 15th of September. Still some way off full fitness, it makes little or no sense to include him in the list even though the team looks light in numbers in that area.

A credible option would have been Innocent Bonke of French Ligue 1 side Lorient. The destroyer like he is nicknamed in France has been ever present since his move to the team in the January transfer window. Even yesterday he was on for the entire duration of their 1-4 loss to Lyon. His omission from the list which has a player who isn’t match fit is a mockery of players getting rewarded with national call up base on club form.

Onazi Over NPFL Players – The return of 29 year old Ogenyi Onazi to the team even though he is on standby is up there among some of the worst call up ever made by a Super Eagles coach. Maybe the worst in recent years. He recently signed for second division Al-Adalah Football Club of Saudi Arabia.

A player from the Nigeria Professional Football League would have been the better and sensible option.

The coach of English Premier League side Watford has confirmed that Nigeria international defender William Troost Ekong won’t be a part of the sqaud for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers game against Ghana.

Ekong was included in the list released by coach Austine Eguavoen earlier today but speaking today ahead of their game against Arsenal on Sunday, coach of Watford Roy Hodgson confirmed that Ekong and Senegal forward Ismaila Saar have suffered serious injury which will keep them out for the foreseeable future.

“It’s a muscle strain, the same with Troost-Ekong,” said Hodgson, 74, of Sarr. “It’s going to keep them both out of the equation for the foreseeable future, but I don’t know how long exactly.

“It’s not a minor thing, it’s not a knock, both have muscle strains, and that can take anything from a week to four weeks to recover from.”

The statement means Alanyaspor defender Chidozie Awaziem who was place on standby will now be elevated into the main team ahead of the games against Ghana.

Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has released the list of players who will represent Nigeria later this month when they take on Ghana in a two legged World Cup qualifiers playoff later this month.

Eguavoen placed seven players on standby which includes five players from the squad that went to the Africa Cup of Nations in Chidozie Awaziem, Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Olayinka, Chidera Ejuke and Jamilu Collins.

The other two on standby are Ogenyi Onazi and Paul Onuachu, while six players led by Victor Osimhen were handled a recall. Odion Ighalo, Emmanuel Dennis, Leon Balogun, Oghenekaro Etebo and Calvin Bassey complete the list.

Two new players were called up for the first team in Ademola Lookman who recently had his switch of nationality from England approved. FC Copenhagen of Denmark new signing Akinkumi Amoo is the other new player in the squad.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)

Standby: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Ogenyi Onazi (Al-Adalah FC, Saudi Arabia)