Super Eagles head coach
Finidi George has named his squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA
World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin. The
53-year-old has retained a chunk of the squad that featured at the
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in Ivory Coast, and the last
international break against Ghana and Mali.
George’s squad was announced in a statement released by the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Friday, May 24, 2024.
Nigeria will host Bafana Bafana in Uyo on 7 June before
travelling to Ivory Coast to take on Benin at the Felix
Houphouet-Boigny Stadium three days later. The squad is led by the
reigning CAF Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen and Ademola
Lookman, who fired Alatanta to UEFA Europa League glory on
Wednesday after scoring a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the
final.
Some players who have been missing from the national roster are
also back in the fold, with Maduka Okoye rewarded with a call-up
following his impressive displays for Udinese in the Serie A. The
German-born shot-stopper has taken the place of Francis Uzoho in
the squad, with the Omonoia goalkeeper dropped for the first time
in a long while. Stanley Nwabali, however, looks set to have the
number one spot locked down after also being included in the
squad.
Super Eagles players- Photo
by Icon Sport
Terem Moffi, who recently crossed the 50-goal mark in Ligue 1,
also returns to the national team after being dropped for the March
friendlies, while Victor Boniface is back in the squad since an
injury in January ruled him out of the AFCON. One of the
biggest omissions from the squad is captain William Troost-Ekong
despite the PAOK defender recovering from injury. Nigeria’s
midfield is also stacked, with Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and
Alex Iwobi all present.
“Nigeria’s Head Coach, Finidi George, has picked
rave-of-the-moment Ademola Lookman, African Player of the Year
Victor Osimhen and safe hands Stanley Nwabali among a crop of 23
players who will do battle with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and
the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup
qualifying matches,” a statement from the NFF said.
Two NPFL players
make Super Eagles squad
Meanwhile, two players from the Nigeria Premier Football League
(NPFL) have been included in Finidi George’s maiden squad as the
substantive head coach of the Super Eagles. The former Enyimba boss
had promised to give equal opportunities to players irrespective of
where they play and hasn’t reneged on that.
Enyimba’s Ojo Olorunleke is once again part of the squad after
first being invited by Jose Peseiro earlier this year for the
AFCON, and also making the squad for the friendlies in March
against Ghana and Mali.
The other home-based player in the squad is Remo Stars’ Sadiq
Ismael, who has been a standout performer in the Sky Blue Stars’
title charge.
Benjamin Tanimu, who plays for Tanzanian giants Ihefu FC is
another player who has been retained from the last squad.
Victor Osimhen included in Super
Eagles squad despite fitness issues
Finidi George has also included Victor Osimhen in his squad
despite the Napoli striker currently battling an injury. The
25-year-old missed Napoli’s last league game against Empoli and his
return date has not yet been confirmed.
While the former Lille sniper is facing a race against time to
be fit for the World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa
and Benin, he is part of a star-studded attacking unit picked by
George.
Photo by Icon
Sport
Meanwhile, Cyrel Dessers, who scored against Ghana in March and
has been in sensational form for Rangers in the Scottish
Premiership has been dropped from the squad. Samuel Chukwueze has,
however, been picked among George’s forward options despite his
faltering form and lack of game time at AC Milan in recent
months.
Paul Onuachu has also been rewarded for his impressive form for
Trabzonspor this season, having found the back of the net 17 times
and provided four assists in the Turkish league. Should Osimhen not
be able to prove his fitness, there is enough quality in the squad
to make up for his absence, especially with Boniface back in the
fold.
Super Eagles’ 23-man squad to face
South Africa and Benin in World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders:
Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal)
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)
Sadiq Ismael (Remo Stars FC)
Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
Benjamin Tanimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium)
Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey)
Forwards:
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey)
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France)
Source link : https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/finidi-names-super-eagles-squad-for-wcq
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Publish date : 2024-05-24 07:00:00
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