Nigeria Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr on Friday named a 28-man squad for the Cameroon 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against minnows Seychelles in Victoria on September 7.
Four of the players – Croatia-based defender Musa Muhammed, Switzerland-based forward Blessing Eleke, Bulgaria-based defender Stephen Eze and Belgium-based holding midfielder UcheAgbo –were named on the standby list.
Rohr, who has kept faith with 18 members of his Russia 2018 World Cup squad, listed 24-year-old England-born Rotherham United defender Semi Ajayi alongside 24-year-old SC Paderborn (German second-tier side) left-back Jamilu Collins, new Bordeaux winger Samuel Kalu and Porto B loanee Kelechi Nwakali on his 24-man main squad. The four players are uncapped.
The German manager dropped veteran left-back Elderson Echiejile, who has struggled to impress since Rohr took the reins after Sunday Oliseh suddenly resigned as Nigeria manager in 2016.
The 30-year-old is the only member of the Russia 2018 team who was unceremoniously dropped for the Seychelles encounter.
Rohr retained the three goalkeepers he took to Russia –Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), as well as under-fire China-based striker Odion Ighalo.
Rohr said the Eagles could not afford to miss out on the next AFCON after their failure to qualify for the last two editions of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Nigeria assistant coach Salisu Yusuf, who is being investigated for alleged bribery, has been omitted from the Seychelles trip.
Rohr, who denied that his assistant took a bribe from undercover reporters who posed as player agents, said it was on the orders of FIFA.
Full list
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Elche, Spain), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba, Nigeria), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), William Troost-Ekong (Udinese, Italy), Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes, Spain), Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal), Semi Ajayi (Rotherham, England), Ola Aina (Torino, Italy), Brian Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany)
Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Joel Obi (Chievo Verona, Italy), John Ogu (Hapoel Beer Sheva, Italy), Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City, England), Kelechi Nwakali (FC Porto B, Portugal)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al-Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China), Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone, Italy), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England), Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray, Turkey), Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux, France), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
Stand-by list: Uche Abo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria), Musa Muhammed (HNK Gorica, Croatia), Blessing Eleke (FC Luzern, Switzerland)
