Rohr names squad of 24 for Algeria and Argentina games with Francis Uzoho topping list of fresh faces

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr had named a 24-man squad to prosecute the forthcoming matches against Algeria and Argentina on November 10 and 14 that includes a few new faces including teenage goalkeeping sensation Francis Uzoho.

Nigeria has already qualified for Russia 2018 but the Eagles still have a dead rubber qualifier to play against Algeria's Desert Foxes in Algiers on October 10. Four days later the team will travel to Russia to face Argentina in a warm-up friendly in the Black Sea city of Krasnodar.

Mr Rohr will use both matches to try out several new players and fine tune the team for the forthcoming World Cup, so has invited a mixture of old players and several new faces. Among the usual faces are skipper Mikel Obi, Leon Balogun, Ogenyi Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa, while the new faces include Uzoho, former U17 World Cup winner Chidiebere Nwakali and Russian based Brian Idowu.

Goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi also made the list, as did  defenders Abdullahi Shehu and William Ekong.  Midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu and Mikel Agu are also in the squad as are forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Simon Moses, Anthony Nwakaeme and Odion Ighalo.

Most football Nigerian fans, however, will be looking forward to the performances of some of the new faces, including Uzoho, who recently forced his way into the Deportivo La Coruna starting line-up. Aged just 19, Uzoho became the youngest ever foreign goalkeeper to debut in Spain's La Liga, and the second-youngest player to appear in the behind Real Madrid's Achraf Hakimi, when he made his debut on October 15, starting in a 0–0 away draw against Eibar.

Other new players who fans are keen to see include Nwakali and the Anderlecht striker Henry Onyekuru, who recently caught the eye in a Uefa Champions League tie against Paris Saint Germain. Idowu, a leftback who plays for Amkar Perm in Russia has, however, only been placed on standby for the friendly against Argentina.

Kenneth Omeruo is on standby for both matches, alongside former junior international Alhassan Ibrahim, who now plays in Austria. All invited players are expected to arrive in a camp in Morocco on Monday, November 6, before the delegation flies to Constantine on Thursday, November 9.

On Saturday, November 11, a 45-seater chartered aircraft will fly the Super Eagles from Constantine to Krasnodar, for their date with Argentina. Other faces fans look forward to seeing in action include the Hull City fullback Ola Aina who made his debut last month when the Eagles faced Zambia.

In that match, Aina came on as a late substitute for leftback Uwua Echiejile who is still injured and will miss both games. Also absent will be Chelsea's Victor Moses, who is out for action after picking up a hamstring strain upon his return from international duty.

Full list

Goalkeepers

Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)

Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain)

Defenders

Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus)

Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands)

 Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany)

William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey)

Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium)

Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France)

Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England)

Midfielders

Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China)

Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey)

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)

Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal)

John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey)

Chidiebere Nwakali (Sogndal FC, Norway)

Forwards

Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England)

Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)

Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium)

Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England)

Odion Ighalo (Chang Chun-Yatai, China)

Henry Onyekuru (RSC Anderlecht, Belgium)

 Anthony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Standby

Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey)

Alhassan Ibrahim (FK Austria Wien, Austria)

Brian Idowu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia)