Sports

Nigeria invites Adi, Iheanacho for AFCON qualifiers

Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa

Head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Samson Siasia has invited Portland Timbers striker Fernando Adi as well as Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho for the two-legged Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt.

 

The 25-year old prolific striker has been ignored over the years by Super Eagles handlers notwithstanding his exploits but Siasia said he believes the big forward could do a job for the team against the Egyptians.

 

Regulars; Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi, John Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo, Carl Ikeme and Ambrose Efe all made the list.

 

The two African giants will lock horns first, in Kaduna on Friday March 25 and later play the second leg in Alexandria, Egypt on Tuesday March 29.

 

The 22 home –boys are expected to hit camp at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday, March 6 before the overseas –based boys arrive as from Sunday, March 20.

 

While unveiling the list in a Press Conference at the NFF secretariat on Thursday, Samson Siasia assured that he would do everything within his ability to ensure that the Eagles fly in the two encounters.

 

He said he only invited the players that will help him actualize his plans for the two encounters against the North Africans since they will have only few days together before the matches.

 

“We will work on tactics on how we want to play. We have to watch the videos [of the Egyptians], look at their strong areas and their weaknesses and translate that into how we have to play against them.

 

“We are playing at home, we must win at home. Whatever it takes for us to win at home, that is what we will do. We have spoken to most of these players like Mikel, Moses, Iheanacho and they are all ready to play,” Siasia said.

 

He however, noted that the harsh weather in Kaduna may not be in the favour of the foreign-based players as they are presently playing in a cold environment.

 

“It is going to be very difficult coming from the cold to play in a very hot weather. How can we manage that? That is the biggest problem I think we have.”

 

The team will leave Abuja to Kaduna on 21^st March on time to acclimatize with the weather and the football pitch.

 

 

HOME –BASED PROFESSIONALS

 

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba FC); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers) 

Defenders: Kalu Orji Okogbue (Enugu Rangers); Chibuzor Okonkwo (FC IfeanyiUbah); Mathew Etim (Enugu Rangers); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors); Sincere Seth (Rhapsody FC); Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys); Chima Akas (Akwa United); Chris Madaki (Kano Pillars); Oke Ogogatewho (Sunshine Stars)

Midfielders: Ifeanyi Mathew (Kano Pillars); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Etebo Oghenekaro (Warri Wolves); Yau Hassan (Wikki Tourists); Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves) 

Forwards: Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Prince Aggrey (Kano Pillars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah); Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors); Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists)

 

OVERSEAS –BASED PROFESSIONALS

Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

Defenders: Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense FC, Portugal); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Matalyspor, Turkey)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (West Ham United, England); Aminu Umar (Osmanlispor FK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Aaron Samuel (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Fanendo Adi (Portland Timbers, USA)