Sports
Ighalo out as Omeruo, Iwobi return for Zambia battle
Nigeria’s Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, on Thursday invited Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, Manchester City youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho, and 21 other players for the next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier againt Zambia’s Chipolopolo billed for the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The team is dominated by the crop of players that defeated Tanzania 1-0 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Uyo on 3rd September with Mikel John Obi, assistant skipper Ahmed Musa, goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, defender Elderson Echiejile and midfielder Ogenyi Onazi leading the pack.
There is also the inclusion of Alanyaspor of Turkey defender Kenneth Omeruo, Belgium –based midfielder Anderson Esiti and English Premiership duo Isaac Success and Alex Iwobi while Watford FC forward Odion Ighalo, who will attend his father’s burial in Nigeria on Saturday, 8th October – eve of the big match has been excused.
Injured KAA Gent of Belgium striker Moses Simon is listed after assuring Coach Rohr that he has started treatment and would be fully healed well ahead of the encounter.
All invited players are expected to start arriving in Abuja as from Sunday, 2nd October.
Read also:Federation Cup: Rivers Angels await opponents for final
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS
Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)
Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Paul Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (Standard Liege, Belgium), Kingsley Madu (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel); Anderson Esiti (KAA Gent, Belgium)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England)
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