Gernot Right name 24 Players for Algeria and Argentina Clash

Captain Mikel John Obi, forward Ahmed Musa and midfielder Ogenyi Onazi top the list of 24 players that Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has invited for next week’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match away to Algeria, and the prestige friendly with Argentina in Russia four days later.

Goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi also made the cut, as well as defenders Abdullahi Shehu, Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo.

There is a first call for impressive Deportivo La Coruna of Spain safe hands Francis Uzoho, as well as former U17 World Cup winner Chidiebere Nwakali. Russia -based Brian Idowu has been placed on standby only for the friendly with Argentina.

2013 AFCON winner 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, 6th November, before the delegation flies to Constantine on Thursday, 9thNovember.

On Saturday, 11th November, a 45 –seater chartered aircraft will fly the Super Eagles from Constantine to Krasnodar, the Russian city that will host the international friendly against Argentina on Tuesday, 14th November.

THE FULL LIST

GOALKEEPERS
Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah, Nigeria); Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain)

DEFENDERS
William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); 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 (Amka Perm, Russia)

Russia 2018: The Super Eagles are coming

Segun Odunayo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the sixth time in her history. After first appearing at the tournament in the United States of America in 1994, France in 1998 and Korea Japan in 2002, Nigeria failed to qualify for Germany 2006 but returned to the most glamorous football competition hosted in Africa (South Africa) for the first time in 2010 and the win against Zambia today books a spot for the most populous black country on earth in Russia next summer. Nigeria becomes the eleventh country to qualify and the first African country to make it to the competition. This is the second time the country will be qualifying for the World Cup with a qualifier to spare after doing same in 1997.

After getting football power houses, Cameroon and Algeria including Zambia in the draws for the tournament, many envisaged a herculean task which may prove difficult to surmount especially knowing that only the top team qualifies.

However, the Super Eagles picked up four points from a double header against African champions Cameroon but have defeated Zambia and Algeria before that. The brilliant display from the Gernot Rohr led team attracted much accolades from far and wide especially after demolishing Cameroon at home and getting a draw away. Knowing fully well that a win today will secure a place at next year's tournament, the team secured three points after Alex Iwobi came off the bench to score the needed goal.

Now, proper preparation must begin in earnest if the team don't just want to complete the numbers in the eastern European country next summer. If Nigeria is to make it beyond its farthest point (the second round) ever, plans must be put in place to ensure that the coaching crew and players are properly prepared for battle against the best footballing countries in the world.

In the meantime, the Nigeria Football Federation led by Amaju Pinnick, the team, coaching crew, fans and Nigerians are general can role out the drums as they celebrate the moment. Congratulations Super Eagles, congratulations NIGERIANS.

Segun Odunayo is a sports analyst and writer with many years experience