Rohr drops Mikel and Joel from 24-man squad for Libya qualifier as they fail to get back to full fitness

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has released his 24-man list of invitees for next weekend's African Nations Cup qualifier against Libya with a few major surprises that involve the dropping of Skipper Mikel Obi.

On Saturday October 10, the Eagles face Libya in Uyo in a decisive 2019 African Nations Cup qualifier and Coach Rohr has named his squad for the game. Alongside Mikel, who is still yet to return to full fitness after injury, Crotone centre forward Simy Nwankwo and on loan Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali are the two other big casualties from the list.

Also, Joel Obi of Serie A side Chievo has been dropped from the squad as he has not played for a month now and is set to stay out of action for a further two weeks due to injury. His namesake Mikel was widely expected to return to the Eagles after his first appearance in two weeks for his Chinese side Tianjin Teda but Coach Rohr has decided to allow him more time to return to full fitness..

In midfield, Coach Rohr settled for a quartet made up of Ogenyi Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo and John Ogu. In defence and attack there are few surprises as Rohr has kept faith with his regulars, likewise, in goal, he has stuck with his three favourite choices of Uzoho, Akpeyi and Ezenwa.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers:

Francis Uzoho (Elche FC, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

Defenders:

Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)

Midfielders:

Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Forwards:

Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England)