As many as seven players who represented Nigeria at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire didn’t make the list of players called up to the team for upcoming international friendly games against Ghana and Mali respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
African vice champions Nigeria will take on Ghana’s Black Stars and Les Aigles of Mali in two top-grade friendly matches in the Moroccan city of Marrakech later this month.
The game against Ghana will be played on Friday, 22nd March while the game against Mali will be played on the from 9pm on Tuesday, 26th March at the same venue in the city of Marrakech.
Ahead of the games, the Super Eagles who are still without a substantive coach following the expiration of the contract of head coach Jose Peseiro have list of players called up to the team for both games made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Seven players who were part of the team that took part at the AFCON where they were beaten 1-2 by the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final were missing in the list for the game. They include captain Ahmed Musa, Joe Aribo, Paul Onuachu and Terem Moffi with the trio of Ola Aina, Zaidu Sanusi and William Troost-Ekong missing through injury.
Their spots were handed to two new players in Benjamin Tanimu who is based in Tanzanian and Luton Town’s Gabriel Osho. Others who are back in the squad includes Sadiq Umar, Tyronne Ebuehi, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella , Jamilu Collins and Wilfred Ndidi.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Gabriel Osho (Luton FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, Wales); Benjamin Tianimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
