Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr has officially announced his 25-man provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt.
A total of ten players owned by English clubs have been called up for the first phase of the Super Eagles AFCON preparations which begins in Asaba on June 2, including Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel.
Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, Chelsea loanees Ola Aina and Kenneth Omeruo, Leicester City pair Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, Rotherham United’s Semi Ajayi, Stoke City’s Oghenekaro Etebo, Everton loanee Henry Onyekuru and Brighton’s Leon Balogun will be part of the training camp.
There was no place on the roster for Victor Moses, who has refused to rescind his decision to retire from the national team.
Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Valentine Ozornwafor, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi and Ikouwem Utin will have to settle for a place in Gernot Rohr’s standby list.
Barring any kind of pre-tournament injury, the three goalkeepers named in the squad list – Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa – are certain to make the 23-man final roster.
Nigeria’s Provisional AFCON Squad:
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); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England)
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba FC)
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
