Support Infographics Daily News Dotcom

Podcasts.

WCQ AFRICA: Onazi on standby, Ighalo returns as Nigeria name squad for Ghana clash

-

Ogenyi Onazi

Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has been put on standby as Nigeria on Friday named their squad, which included Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2022 absentee, Oghenekaro Etebo, for the World Cup play-off against regional rivals Ghana later this month. The long-time absentee was part of the Super Eagles side that won the AFCON in 2013.
Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman was also included in the provisional squad. Nigeria take on Ghana at the 20,000–capacity Cape Coast Sports Stadium on March 25, with the reverse leg set for Abuja four days later. The winners from the tie will earn one of Africa’s five tickets to the World Cup finals in Qatar from November 21 to December 18.
Lookman has been cleared by FIFA to play for Nigeria after he represented England at various age-grade levels. He is one of three uncapped players selected by Nigeria, along with Calvin Bassey of Scottish champions Rangers and FC Copenhagen youngster Akinkunmi Amoo. The enlarged squad also includes Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis and striker Odion Ighalo, who were blocked by their clubs from featuring at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who missed the competition, was also invited.
Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Olayinka, and Chidozie Awaziem, who all played at the recent AFCON, as well as long-term absentee Ogenyi Onazi, are on a seven-man standby list. The training camp opens in Abuja on March 21 with a 24–man final list for the two play-off games to be released at a later date.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia/CYP), Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs/RSA), Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED)
Defenders: Semi Ajayi (West Brom/ENG), Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes/ESP), Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers/SCO), William Ekong (Watford/ENG), Ola Aina (Torino/ITA), Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers/SCO), Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia/CYP), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto/POR)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford/ENG), Joe Aribo (Glasgow Rangers/SCO), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City/ENG), Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford/ENG), Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen/DEN)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk/TUR), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal/ESP), Victor Osimhen (Napoli/ITA), Moses Simon (Nantes/FRA), Sadiq Umar (Almeria/ESP), Odion Ighalo (Al-Hilal/KSA), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City/ENG), Emmanuel Dennis (Watford/ENG), Ademola Lookman (Leicester City/ENG)
Standby: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor/TUR), Jamilu Collins (Paderborn/GER), Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin/GER), Paul Onuachu (Genk/BEL), Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague/CZE), Ogenyi Onazi (Al-Adalah/KSA)

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle: 'Efficient' Gunners showing 'no fear'

-
Image
  Arsenal beat  Newcastle  4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday. It was the Gunners' sixth successive victory in the league. They have scored 25 goals and conceded just three in that run. Arsenal are the sixth side to win their first six Premier League matches of a calendar year - the last three have won the title. "We are living the dream," Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard told TNT Sports as his side moved two points behind leaders Liverpool in third. "We have all dreamed of being here. You see every week how competitive it is and that is where we want to be - we want to fight for trophies." While Arsenal have won every game they have played in the Premier League in 2024, they did lose to Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in midweek, conceding a stoppage-time goal. But they responded in style with four goals in a 4-1 win against Newcastle on Saturday. "They look like a team really upset with the midweek performance. Their press a...
Read more

Protest Erupts in Abuja Over Demolition of Homes by FCT Minister Wike

-
Image
  Residents of Ruga, a settlement along Airport Road in Abuja, staged a protest on Friday against the demolition of their homes by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The demolition was part of the minister’s initiative, *Operation Sweep*, aimed at clearing areas within the capital deemed as nuisances and hotspots for criminal activities. The protest was led by prominent lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, alongside Vincent Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMark. They accused Wike of carrying out the demolitions with malicious intent, claiming the task force destroyed numerous homes and property worth millions of naira. Adeyanju expressed concern for the displaced residents, many of whom had fled conflict zones in northern Nigeria, including Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider the hardships faced by these displaced individuals, most of whom are artisans struggling to survive. He condemned the demolitions as excessive and unjustified, urging...
Read more

AFCONQ: Osimhen Makes Return as Eguavoen Names 23-Man Squad for Rwanda and Benin Matches

-
Image
  Super Eagles interim coach, Austin Eguavoen, has announced a 23-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Rwanda and Benin. The squad sees the return of star players Victor Osimhen and Sadiq Umar as the 2013 AFCON champions aim to secure their spot in next year’s tournament in Morocco. Currently leading Group D with 10 points, Nigeria has earned six points from their encounters with Libya and needs just one more point to guarantee qualification for the 2025 AFCON. Full Super Eagles Squad - Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie - Defenders: Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, Bruno Onyemeachi, Gabriel Osho, Victor Collins - Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Wilfred Ndidi, Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru - Forwards: Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Umar Sadiq The Super Eagles will first...
Read more