Austin Eguavoen, the interim head coach of the Super Eagles, has named his 23-man squad for the final round of matches of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The list was unveiled in a statement released by the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday.
The Super Eagles will face the Benin Republic and Rwanda in
the final round of matches in Group D of the AFCON qualifiers.
Victor Osimhen returns to the team after missing out on the last-round games due to a muscle injury. Other returnees are Sadiq Umar and Gabriel Osho, who earned his second call-up to the Eagles camp after a short break from the group.
Semi Ajayi, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Jamilu Collins are notable
absences from the squad. They were all on the list for the double-header clash
against Libya in October.
Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Boniface, Samuel
Chukwueze, and William Troost-Ekong all remained in the squad.
Kelechi Iheanacho, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf and
Frank Onyeka are also included.
The Super Eagles suffered an unusually frightful experience
during their last assignment on the continent. The team was scheduled to play
Libya in a double-header clash. However, the situation escalated after Nigeria
defeated the North African 1-0 in Uyo. The return leg was to be played at
Benghazi, but the Nigerian national team’s flight was diverted to Al Abaq
airport, and the players and coaches were held for over 20 hours without food
and drinks.
The Eagles later withdrew from the qualifying match and
returned home. Libya’s action attracted the wrath of CAF, and the country
forfeited the game and was fined $50 thousand. Nigeria was also awarded three
points and three goals.
Nigeria will fly to play the Benin Republic at the Stade
Felix-Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan, on November 14. Four days later, the team will
return to Uyo for the final qualifying game against Rwanda at the Godswill
Akpabio Stadium.
The Eagles are at the top of Group D, with 10 points, and at
least a draw in any of the forthcoming games will secure a place in Morocco.
FULL LIST:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa);
Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia);
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC,
Portugal); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC,
England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Victor Collins (Nasarawa
United)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England);
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England
Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg
FC, Germany); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen
(Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi
Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany);
Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
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