Rohr invites 23, in-form Mikel, Azu, Awoniyi miss out

Captain of the Super Eagles John Mikel Obi and other in-form stars Okechukwu Azubuike and Taiwo Awoniyi miss out as Head coach Gernot Rohr invites twenty-three (23) players for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Seychelles and the international friendly against Egypt

Rohr has stuck with the majority of his familiar troops that earned qualification with the Super Eagles last November but has invited Flying Eagles centre back Valentine Ozornwafor and Denmark-based forward Paul Onuachu.

Conspicuously missing in Rohr’s squad is Mikel who has become a fans’ favourite at his new English club Middlesbrough while Turkey based midfielder Okechukwu Azubuike and Belgium based striker Taiwo Awoniyi who has scored in six of his last seven league games for Royal Mouscron were also overlooked by the German.

The three –time African champions confront Seychelles in a largely –ceremonial qualifier at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Friday, 22nd March, starting from 4pm, and then tackle the Pharaohs of Egypt at the same venue in a prestige international friendly four days later.

All invited players, alongside technical and backroom crew, are to report in the Delta State capital on Monday, 18th March 2019.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba FC); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)

Midfielders: Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark)