Eagles head coach Rohr releases provisional 30-man World Cup list with two debutants

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has released the names of the 30 players on his World Cup provisional squad that involves a few surprises inclusions including Kano Pillars striker Junior Lokosa.

Lokosa has been in terrific form in the Nigeria Professional Football League scoring 18 goals in 20 matches, including a brace against Katsina United on Sunday. Another fresh call-up was 26-year-old Simeon Nwankwo, gets his maiden invitation thanks to his fine form in the Italian top flight where he has scored six goals in his last seven outings.

Nigeria's Super Eagles are heading for their sixth World Cup, having taken part in the 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 editions. Mr Rohr has decided to by and large go along with the tried and tested, sticking  with the regular four goalkeepers of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Dele Ajiboye, Daniel Akpeyi and Francis Uzoho.

Other regulars who were called up as expected include Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, William Troost-Ekong and defensive partner Leon Balogun. Also in the team are Leicester City's duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo, Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo.

However, missing from the squad are Brown Ideye, Dele Alampasu, Anthony Nwakaeme, Henry Onyekuru, Victor Osimhen and Kayode Olanrewaju. Nigeria begins her World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 16 at the Kaliningrad Stadium before facing Iceland on June 22 and Argentina on June 26 in Volgograd and Saint Petersburg respectively.

Fifa had given all the 32 teams participating in this summer's World Cup until yesterday to submit their provisional lists. When the tournament starts, this will be further whittled down to 23 players, who will be officially registered for the mundial.

Goalkeepers

[1] Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain)

[2] Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Ifeanyi Uba FC, Nigeria)

[3] Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

[4] Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United, Nigeria)

Defenders

[5] Shehu Abdullahi (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus)

[6] Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, Holland)

[7] Brian Idowu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia)

[8] Ola Aina (Hull City, England)

[9] Leon Balogun (Mainz, Germany)

[10] William Ekong (Bursaspor, Turkey)

[11] Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France)

[12] Kenneth Omeruo (Kasımpaşa, Turkey)

[13] Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium)

[14] Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

[15] Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge, Belgium)

Midfielders

[16] Mikel Obi (Tianjin Teda, China)

[17] Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)

[18] Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey)

[19] Mikel Agu (Bursaspor, Turkey)

[20] John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel)

[21] Oghenekaro Etebo (Feirense, Portugal)

[22] Joel Obi (Torino, Italy)

Attackers

[23] Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England)

[24] Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China)

[25] Victor Moses (Chelsea, England)

[26] Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)

[27] Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England)

[28] Moses Simon (Gent, Belgium)

[29] Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars, Nigeria)

[30] Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone, Italy)