Rohr rests Mikel and Iheanacho for forthcoming games against Seychelles and Egypt later this month

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has invited 23 players to camp for the final 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles and a friendly match against Egypt due to take place on March 22 and 26 respectively.

Opting to rest skipper Mikel Obi and Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, Mr Rohr has by and large stuck with his regulars for the two matches. In the dead rubber friendly against Seychelles which is largely a friendly because Nigeria has already qualified for the tournament, the Eagles are likely to use a second tier side to try out a few of the younger players.

Ademola Olajire, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) spokesman, said that defender Kenneth Omeruo of Leganes of Spain has been invited alongside regulars Leon Balogun, Abdullahi Shehu and William Ekong to man the defence. He added that midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi, as well as forwards Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon were also called up.

There are also a few new faces as Mr Rohr has invited former Flying Eagles’ defender Valentine Ozornwafor, as well as well as former U17 World Cup striker Victor Osimhen and Denmark-based Paul Onuachu. All the invited players, alongside the technical and backroom crew, are to report to camp in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Monday, March 18.

Mr Rohr has decided there is no need to stress team captain Mikel as he needs time to settle down at his new club Middlesboro after recently joining the English Championship side from Tiajin Teda in China. Also left out of the squad is embattled Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who has been struggling to maintain a regular place at the King Power Stadium this season.

However, teammate Wilfred Ndidi who has been enjoying regular playing time at Leicester has made the squad to which he returns having missed the last qualifier against South Africa due to suspension. In the first leg played away to Seychelles in September last year, Nigeria recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory with Odion Ighalo, Chidozie Awaziem and Ahmed Musa on target.

Samuel Kalu who made the squad will need to ginger his spirits at a time when efforts are still being made to rescue his mother Madam Ozuruonye Juliet Kalu, who was recently kidnapped. His case is like a replay of the experience Mikel had during the World cup in Russia when he had to endure the pain of his father’s kidnap to play for Nigeria.

Full list

Goalkeepers:

Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United), Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)

Defenders:

Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy), Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey), Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba FC), Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy), Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, UK), Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain), Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)

Midfielders:

Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, UK), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, UK), Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, UK), John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Forwards:

Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia), Victor Osimhen (Charleroi SC, Belgium), Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain), Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey), Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, UK), Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France), Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark)