Followers of the Nigeria Professional Football League have been expressing their approval and disapproval on the list of 35 players selected by the League Management company to tour Spain and participate in two high profile friendly against Valencia and Malaga.
The League Management Company (LMC) has released a list of 32 players shortlisted for further screening to make up the 22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) All Stars squad for the NPFL-LaLiga Tour coming up in August.
The list is made up of four goalkeepers, eight defenders, three defensive midfielders,seven central midfielders, seven wingers and six center forwards.
The Goalkeepers are Emeka Nwabulu of El-Kanemi Warriors, Enyimba’s Theophilus Afelokhai, Ikechukwu Ezenwa who recently joined FC IfeanyIubah from Sunshine Stars and Okiemute Odah of Lobi Stars.
Rangers’ Matthew Etim, Ifeanyi Nweke of MFM, Chima Akas Enyimba, Gabriel Wassa of Niger Tornadoes and Enyimba’s captain, Chine Udoji are some of the defenders. The others are Austin Obaroakpo of Abia Warriors, Kano Pillars’ Jamiu Alimi and Emmanuel Ariwa of Akwa United.
Shortlisted for the defensive midfield roles are former U-20 Star, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi of MFM, Dare Ojo of Enyimba and Dayo Ojo of Sunshine Stars.
The Central Midfielders are Obinna Nwobodo of Rangers International, Otun Fawaz of Shooting Stars, Kano Pillars’ Rabiu Ali, Ibrahim Alhassan of Wikki Tourists, Ifeanyi Matthew of Kano Pillars, Frederick Obomate of Rivers United and Charles Henlong of Kano Pillars.
Listed for the wings are Heartland’s Emeka Ogbuh, Sikiru Olatubosun of MFM, Chisom Egbuchulam of Rangers, Ezekiel Bassey of Enyimba International, Shadrach Oghali of Warri Wolves, Bashir Abdulrahman of Nasarawa United and Bata Mohammed of ElKanemi Warriors.
Completing the list are the outfield forwards made up of Wikki Tourists, Godwin Obaje, FC IfeanyiUbah’s Ismaila Gata, Anthony Okpotu of Lobi Stars, Ibrahim Mustapha of El- Kanemi Warriors, Abiye Moses of Ikorodu United and Stephen Odey of MFM.
A letter signed by Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC directed the invited players to report for the first phase of camping that will open on July 11 and end on the 18th. The letter said the players during the period will be released to play for their clubs in League and Federation Cup fixtures. The second and final phase of the camping will open on August 1 leading to the team’s departure on August 8.
The squad was selected by a poll of Coaches of the NPFL carried out to pick players for the different positions. The NPFL All Stars will while in Spain play a pre-season friendly with Valencia CF and also participate in the annual Carranza LaLiga World Club Tournament in which they will play against Malaga CF on August 12 and 13
