Road to Qatar 2022: Ighalo returns as Rohr invites 24 Super Eagles for Liberia, Cape Verde duels

It is no longer a rumour about the return of Odion Ighalo to Super Eagles as Coach Gernot Rohr has included the Saudi based striker among the 24 players invited for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde later in the month.

 Among the invited 23 other players include team captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Leon Balogun, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, forwards Moses Simon and Victor Osumhen, as well as 16 others.

The Super Eagles will tackle the Lone Star of Liberia at the Grand Stade Tangier in Morocco on Saturday, 13th November and then fly into Lagos for the final group game against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday, 16th November.

Top of their pool with nine points but hotly chased by seven-pointer Cape Verde who host Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo, the Eagles need the three points against the Lone Star on the neutral turf of Morocco’s principal northern city to remain on firm ground when hosting the Blue Sharks three days later in Nigeria’s commercial and industrial capital.

 

Leicester City of England’s midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, who missed the last round of games home-and-away against Central African Republic, is back in the trough, just as fellow Premiership boy Alex Iwobi and Spain-based forward Samuel Chukwueze.

 

Coach Rohr has this time extended invitation 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ top scorer Odion Jude Ighalo, who announced his retirement from the international game following that AFCON feat in Egypt.  

 

The invited players and overseas-based members of the technical crew are to report directly to the city of Tangier on Monday, 8^th November while technical officials from Nigeria are to report in Tangier the same day.

EAGLES FOR LONE STAR & BLUE SHARKS

 

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

 

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)

 

Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)

 

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

 

Thuraya charges Eagles to go for victory against Cape Verde

Chairman of the Kwara State Football Association, Malam Idris Musa Abdullahi has described the Super Eagles of Nigeria Clash with Cape Verde in their second group game of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifier as a trickish encounter.

 Ahead of the clash against the blue sharks, he has called on the players and technical crew to maintain focus and be wary of the threat the cape verdians might pose.

Thuraya, who was a key figure at the Teslim Balogun stadium On friday where Leicester's City Forward, Kelechi Ihenachos first half brace set Nigeria to the path of the 2-0 win Against Liberia, said:

" We have to be very discipline for this type of games, the cape verdians are no longer a pushover when you consider how they've rose in football for the past few years".

" Some of the players have departed back to their base in Europe meaning the technical crew has a lot to do in terms of getting the best leg out on the pitch and  there has to be a sort of improve performances from the Liberia game if we're to get any positive results from this game" He Said.

In another development, the Head of Media and Publicity of the FA, Bolaji Lawal confirmed that Secretary of the Association, Kashim Agaka was among the NIgeria Football Federation Delegates that departed Muritala International Airport for Cape Verde aboard Air Peace around 2am for match billed for the Aderito Sena Stadium in the Island of Mindelo.

Alex Nwora is new D'Tigers Coach

United States of America based Nigerian Alex Nwora has been named as the new head coach of the D’Tigers team ahead of their 2017 Men Afrobasket tournament title defence.