Super Eagles’ head coach Stephen Keshi on Thursday called up 30 players while putting six on standby in preparation for the third African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria qualified for the tournament for the first time scheduled for Jan. 11 to Feb. 1.
Nigeria have been grouped alongside hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in Group A.
Regular Super Eagles Team B faces dominate the list with the Golden Eaglets’ trio of goalkeeper Sunday Alampasu, midfielder Kelechi Iheanacho and forward Taiwo Awoniyi invited.
First-choice goalkeeper and team skipper Chigozie Agbim and ace midfielder
Sunday Mba however head the list, with Shooting Stars’ forward Gbolahan Salami handed a recall.
The 30-man list has four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and nine strikers.
All 30 players on the main list are expected to report to the Bolton
White Apartments in Abuja on Monday, Dec. 9.
However, players on the standby list will have the opportunity to join the team only if a player
on the main list gets injured.
The full list has goalkeepers Chigozie Agbim (Rangers International), Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland
FC), Isah Danladi (Sharks FC), Sunday Alampasu (Abuja Football
College), and defender Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves).
The other defenders are Ebenezer Odunlami (Sunshine Stars), Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC), Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars), Bright Esieme (Enyimba International FC), Yinka Adedeji (Sharks FC) and Reuben Ogbonnaya (El-Kanemi Warriors).
The rest defenders are Umar Zango (Kano Pillars) and Chibuzor Madu (Rangers), while midfielders Sunday Mba (Rangers), Etebo Oghenekaro (Warri Wolves) and Ogonna Osuchukwu (Rangers) were also invited.
The other midfielders are Achiv Douglas (Lobi Stars), Kelechi Iheanacho (Taiye Academy, Owerri), Mohammed Ajia (Bayelsa United) and Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC).
The forwards called up include Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars), Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba FC),
Barnabas Imenger (Lobi Stars), Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers), Ezekiel
Mbah (Akwa United) and Obiozor Christian (Rangers).
The rest are Abubakar Aliyu (Nasarawa United), Gbolahan Salami (3SC) and Taiwo Awoniyi (Imperial Academy, Ilorin).
Players on standby are Happy Okuoka (Heartland FC), Bello Ikeleji (Insurance FC),
Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland FC), Izuegbu Abonima (Rangers), Paul
Ikenna (Sunshine Stars) and John Igenepo.(NAN)
