Super Eagles Technical Adviser Augustine Eguavoen has named his provisional 30-man list for the playoffs of the 2022 FIFA World Cup against Ghana.
There are new faces on the Super Eagles list to face Ghana and a few who have missed out since the Super Eagles’ last outing in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The most notable presence on the list is Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman who has been called up for the first time since FIFA approved of his nationality switch from England to Nigeria.
The 24-year-old represented England at various youth levels but decided to switch allegiance to Nigeria.
Another notable presence on the list is Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis. The former Club Brugge man was prevented from linking up with the Super Eagles for the Africa Cup of Nations with Watford claiming his invitation arrived late.
His call-up was subsequently revoked and the player couldn’t participate in the competition.
Veteran striker Odion Ighalo has also been included in the Super Eagles list to face Ghana having missed the chance to feature in the AFCON having been barred by his club. His inclusion provides much needed experience in attack.
Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has also been called up. He is another player who missed the AFCON as he contracted the Coronavirus just days before the tournament and was subsequently not released by his club.
An obvious omission to the list is Alex Iwobi. However, this is because the midfielder is suspended for the fixture having been shown a straight red card in the AFCON knockout stage match against Tunisia.
Taiwo Awoniyi, Paul Onuachu, Chidera Ejuke have all missed out on being called up. Awoniyi and Ejuke were at the AFCON but Onuachu was not called up due to injury.
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Here is a comprehensive list of the Super Eagles called up to face Ghana as released by Eguavoen:
Goalkeepers
Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders
Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
Midfielders
Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)
Forwards
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)
Eguavoen and the Super Eagles would be looking to put their AFCON 2021 disappointment behind them and focus on booking a spot at the World Cup in Qatar.
The Super Eagles were eliminated at the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations but will find a little joy in the fact that Ghana were unable to even make it through their group.
The double legged playoff between Nigeria and Ghana is scheduled to hold March 25 and 29.
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