AFCON 2021: Eguavoen Releases 28-Man Super Eagles’ List
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – With just days to the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Cameroon, Nigeria’s interim Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has released his final list of 28 Super Eagles players for the tournament with convalescing Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen making the cut.
A statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, indicated that team captain Ahmed Musa and star midfielder Wilfred Ndidi predictably made the list.
The Super Eagles, who are three–times winners of the competition, are drawn in Group D of the event slated for Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022. They will be trading tackles with seven times and record winners, Egypt, Sudan, and debutants Guinea Bissau in their group matches that will take place in the northern town of Garoua.
Interestingly, making the list released by Coach Eguavoen are four goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and 10 forwards as the Super Eagles seek to claim their fourth continental diadem in the Central African nation of Cameroon.
With only the United Kingdom-based players expected to start arriving in camp on Monday, January 3, 2022, some of the invited players were scheduled to start arriving in camp in Abuja on Wednesday, December 29, 2021.
As anticipated, several known names in the Eagles made the list with Skipper Ahmed Musa, Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, returnee Odion Ighalo, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, and Daniel Akpeyi among the leading light in the team.
However, the list has its surprise package with the return of former FIFA Under-17 World Cup-winning captain, Kelechi Nwakali, forward Emmanuel Dennis, and 2016 Olympics star Sadiq Umar to the Eagles’ fold after a long absence.
BELOW IS THE FULL SUPER EAGLES’ LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); and 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 Paderborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); and Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); and Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)
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); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); and Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England).
The Super Eagles are slated to kick-off proceedings at the continental soccer carnival with a mouth-watering clash against the Pharaohs of Egypt in their group opener on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.
