CHAN 2018 QUALIFIER: ODEY, UDOH MAKE PROVISIONAL SQUAD
CHAN 2018 QUALIFIER: ODEY, UDOH MAKE PROVISIONAL SQUAD
Nigeria Chief Coach Salisu Yusuf has named Nigerian Professional Football League top goalscorer Stephen Odey in an initial 30-man squad for next month’s 2018 CHAN qualifier against the winner of a preliminary match between Benin and Togo.
League record scorer Mfon Udoh, FC Ifeanyi Ubah goalkeeper Okechukwu Ezenwa and Akwa United sensational midfielder Ibrahim Alhassan are also called up for the fixture.
There is no place for Enyimba attacking midfielder Ikechukwu Ibenegbu or Lobi Stars striker Anthony Okpotu, though. Remo Stars midfielder Victor Mbaoma, last season’s leading scorer Godwin Obaje, Akwa United winger Ubong Friday and Enyimba enterprising midfielder Dare Ojo are also omitted.
Nigeria, who won bronze in the 2014 edition of the tournament, will play against the winner of a preliminary fixture between their West African neighbours, with the first leg holding on the weekend of 11th – 13th August in either Cotonou or Lome, and the return leg in Nigeria on Saturday, 19th August.
The Togo v Benin Republic preliminary fixture will be concluded this month.
THE NIGERIA SQUAD
•Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC), Okiemute Odah (Lobi Stars), Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United)
•Defenders: Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Orji Kalu (Enugu Rangers); Stephen Eze (FC IfeanyiUbah); Ariwachukwu Emmanuel (Akwa United); Elisha Golbe (Plateau United); Chima Akas (Enyimba FC); Nasiru Sani (Katsina United), Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers), Chinedu Ajanah (ABS FC)
•Midfielders: Hafiz Aremu (Akwa United); Emeka Atuloma (Rivers United); Raphael Ayagwa (Lobi Stars); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars), Samuel Mathias (El-Kanemi Warriors), Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United), Chiamaka Madu (Enugu Rangers)
•Forwards: Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC); Prince Aggreh (FC IfeanyiUbah); Sikiru Olatubosun (MFM FC), Thomas Zenke (Nasarawa United); Austin Oladapo (Gombe United), Stephen Odey (MFM FC); Kingsley Eduwo (Lobi Stars), Sunday Adetunji (Abia Warriors), Ifeanyi George (Enugu Rangers)