Rohr calls up youngsters Nwakali and Onyekuru as he invites 24 players for Sep 7 qualifier against Seychelles

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has published the list of 24 players invited for next month's African Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles calling up several exciting youngsters like Kelechi Nwakali and Henry Onyekuru.

On September 7, Nigeria is due to face Seychelles away in the capital Victoria but reeling from a combination of injuries and retirement from international football, Rohr has to come up with a squad list. Chelsea wingback Victor Moses has announced he is quitting the national team and skipper Mikel Obi called the manager to excuse himself from the crucial game, citing the fact that he had not fully regained the required fitness level needed to play in such a match.

As a result, Rohr has gone for a list that includes experience but he has also called up several young players the fans have been looking forward to seeing including Nwakali, Onyekuru, new Bourdeux signing Samuel Kalu, Semi Ajayi and Ola Aina. There is also a debut invitation for defender Jamilu Collins, who plays for Padeborn in Germany, with the rest of the squad made up of regulars.

Apart from Mikel and Moses and the injured rightback duo of Tyrone Ebuehi and Shehu Musa, most of the players are those Rohr took to the World Cup. Ageing leftback Uwua Echiejile was the only one dropped, with Ahmed Musa retaining his spot despite his recent big money move to Al-Nassr in the  lowly Saudi Arabian league.

Four players have been put in standby in case of any injuries. These include Uche Agbo of Standard Liege in Belgium, Stephen Eze of Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Bulgaria, Musa Mohammed of Gorica in Croatia and Blessing Eleke of Luzern in Switzerland.

Full list

Goalkeepers

[1] Francis Uzoho - Deportivo la Coruna (Spain)

[2] Daniel Akpeyi - Chippa United (South Africa)

[3] Ikechukwu Ezenwa - Enyimba (Nigeria)

Defenders

[4] Ola Aina - Torino (Italy)

[5] Bryan Idowu - Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)

[6] Chiodozie Awaziem - Porto (Portugal)

[7] William Ekong - Udinese (Italy)

[8] Leon Balogun - Brighton (England)

[9] Kenneth Omeruo - Leganes (Spain)

[10] Semi Ajayi - Rotherham (England)

[11] Jamilu Collins - Padeborn (Germany)

Midfielders

[12] Ogenyi Onazi - Trabzonspor (Turkey)

[13] Wilfred Ndidi - Leicester (England)

[14] Oghene Etebo - Stoke City (England)

[15] Joel Obi - Chievo (Italy)

[16] Kelechi Nwakali - Porto (Portugal)

[17] John Ogu - Hapoel Be'er Sheva (Israel)

Forwards

[18] Ahmed Musa - Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia)

[19] Kelechi Iheanacho - Leicester (England)

[20] Odion Ighalo - Changchun Yatai (China)

[21] Alex Iwobi - Arsenal (England)

[22] Simeon Nwankwo - Crotone (Italy)

[23] Henry Onyekuru - Galatasaray (Turkey)

[24] Samuel Kalu - Bordeaux (France)

Standby

[1] Uche Agbo - Standard Liege (Belgium)

[2] Stephen Eze - Lokomotiv Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

[3] Musa Mohammed -  Gorica (Croatia)

[4] Blessing Eleke - Luzern (Switzerland)