Nigeria has named a 30-man squad for the Super Six tournament as it intensifies preparations for next month’s fifth edition of the African Nations Championship.
The Super Eagles’ home-based team are due in Morocco for the continental showpiece, which kicks off on January 13, but will first compete in the Super Six against local sides.
The tournament, originally a dry run by the four clubs representing Nigeria in the CAF club competitions, was expanded to accommodate the CHAN-bound Eagles and host team Kano Pillars.
Coach Salisu Yusuf has listed 30 players for the one-week competition, although it remains to be seen whether further additions will be made to the team in the days and weeks leading up to their departure for a training camp in Morocco.
A number of players who were part of the team during the CHAN qualifiers and WAFU Nations Cup had been excluded, with Chima Akas, Emmanuel Ariwachukwu and Mathias Samuel the key absentees.
However, there are first-time call-ups for Victor Mbaoma, Sunday Faleye, Joseph Osadiaye, Douglas Achiv, Timothy Danladi, Ifeanyi Nweke, Ibrahim Mustapha and Dayo Ojo.
The likes of Kalu Orji Okagbue, Raphael Ayagwa, Emeka Atuloma and Sikiru Olatunbosun were recalled to the side, but after picking up recent injuries, Mfon Udoh and Sunday Adetunji were yet to make the cut.
While Afeez Aremu, who was widely reported in the local media to have signed a professional contract with Inter Allies of Ghana, surprisingly made the list, his former teammate at Akwa United and the 2017 Aiteo Cup Most Valuable Player, Olorunleke Ojo, was overlooked.
In certain instances, players selected for the CHAN-based teams will play against the teams that employed them. Enyimba, for example, has its two top keepers – Ikechukwu Ezenwa, and Theophilus Afelokhai – both representing the Eagles, which could leave the Peoples’ Elephant short between the sticks.
As well as allowing Nigeria’s club sides to refine their preparations ahead of next year’s CAF competition, the week-long tournament also allows the squad’s new players to potentially gatecrash the party for the CHAN and earn a spot on the plane to Morocco.
Nigeria squad for Super Six
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa; Dele Ajiboye; Theophilus Afelokhai
Defenders: Stephen Eze; Osas Okoro; Daniel Itodo; Adeleye Olamilekan; Kalu Orji Okagbue; Ifeanyi Nweke; Nasiru Sani; Timothy Danladi
Midfielders: Afeez Aremu; Raphael Ayagwa; Ifeanyi Ifeanyi; Rabiu Ali; Destiny Ashadi; Dayo Ojo; Emeka Atuloma; Douglas Achiv; Austine Oladapo; Abdulkadir Zango
Forwards: Sikiru Olatunbosun; Kingsley Eduwo; Peter Eneji; Anthony Okpotu; Joseph Osadiaye; Sunday Faleye; Victor Mbaoma; Mustapha Ibrahim; and Gabriel Okechukwu.
