The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the Falcons and True Parrots of São Tomé and Príncipe in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying Group A encounter at the Adrar Stadium in Morocco on Monday at 2pm (Nigerian time).

Top attackers missing as Nigeria invites 30 players for Mexico, Ecuador matches

On May 10, 2022

Super Eagles’ First Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf has released a list of 30 players, ahead of the international friendly matches against the ‘A’ Men National Teams of Mexico and Ecuador in the United States of America.

Captain Ahmed Musa and forward Moses Simon are also included in the list.

The three-time African champions will clash with CONCACAF powerhouse Mexico at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, the State of Texas on Saturday, May 28, before flying to New Jersey to tackle Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday, June 2.

Nigeria’s top attackers Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and Odion Ighalo, including vibrant midfielder Wilfred Ndidi are missing in the list contained in a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, on Tuesday.

Yusuf, who is also Head Coach of the CHAN and the U23 teams, has included eight home-based professional players, including goalkeepers Adewale Adeyinka and Ojo Olorunleke as well as defender Ibrahim Buhari, forwards Victor Mbaoma and Ishaq Rafiu.

Only 25 players will make the final list for the tour, which is preparatory to next month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone in Abuja (9th June) and São Tomé & Príncipe in Marrakech, Morocco (13th June).

FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Isa Ali (Remo Stars); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau United)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United); Babatunde Afeez Nosiru (Kwara United); Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey); Samson Tijani (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Victor Mbaoma (Enyimba FC); Ishaq Rafiu (Rivers United).

PUNCH/ Mercy Chukwudiebere