NIGERIA VS CAMEROON: MIKEL, IGHALO RECALLED
Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has named his 23-man squad for next month’s double-header World Cup qualifying tie against neighbours Cameroon, with the return of captain Mikel John Obi the main talking point.
Chang Chun-Yatai striker Odion Ighalo – who, like Mikel, has not been in the Nigeria fold since the 3-1 win over Algeria in November – also makes a return to the squad.
In-form Hapoel Be’er Sheva striker, Anthony Nwakaeme, earns a first call-up, but Rohr has opted against including RSC Anderlecht winger Henry Onyekuru, who finished joint top scorer in the Jupiler league last season.
The 64-year old Frenchman has listed Chippa United’s Daniel Akpeyi – whose performance in Nigeria’s last game, against South Africa in Uyo attracted critism – as one of the three goalkeepers in the squad.
The first of the fixtures will hold in Uyo on September 1.
FULL LIST
•Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal)
•Defenders: William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (Sivasspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Ola Aina (Hull City, England)
•Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey)
•Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Chang Chun-Yatai, China); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Anthony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
•STANDBY: Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Henry Onyekuru (Anderlecht FC, Belgium); Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea FC, England); Aaron Samuel (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United); Stephen Eze (FC IfeanyiUbah); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United)