By Daily sports on March 23, 2021
Everton’s Alex Iwobi and Rangers centre-back Leon Balogun have joined Nigeria’s camp as the number of invited players for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho increased to 18 as at Monday night.
Former Arsenal star Iwobi was an 87th minute replacement for Mason Holgate as Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees bowed 2-0 to Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup game at Goodison Park.
Elsewhere, Balogun provided an assist for Alfredo Morelos as Steven Gerrard’s Gers played a 1-1 draw with Celtic in Sunday’s Scottish Premiership showdown.
Captain Ahmed Musa, West Bromwich Albion’s Semi Ajayi, Fulham right-back Ola Aina and Watford centre-back William Troost-Ekong were the early arrivals for the important fixtures.
Galatasaray duo of Henry Onyekuru and Peter Etebo joined the team later alongside Boavista’s Chidozie Awaziem, AC Omonia’s Abdullahi Shehu and Abia Warriors’ Adekunle Adeleke.
Minutes after helping Enyimba subdue Sunshine Stars 1-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League encounter at the Agege Stadium, the duo of Anayo Iwuala and John Noble teamed up with Gernot Rohr’s squad at the plush Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and Zaidu Sanusi are expected before lunchtime on Tuesday.
The three-time African champions will hold their first training session at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday morning.
They will leave for Cotonou on Friday before taking on Michel Dussuyer’s Squirrels at Porto-Novo’s Stade Charles de Gaulle on Saturday.
Three days later, Nigeria take on the Crocodiles in their last Group L game. The Super Eagles who lead their zone with eight points from four games need at least a win to guarantee their place in Cameroon 2022.
Should that happen, that will be their 19th appearance at the finals since their maiden appearance in Ghana 1963 – where they crashed out in the preliminary round.
Rohr’s men finished third at Afcon 2019, Egypt after defeating Tunisia 1-0 to pick up the bronze medal thanks to Odion Ighalo’s third-minute effort at Cairo’s Al Salam Stadium.
Musa, Troost-Ekong, Aina, Ajayi, Onyekuru, Etebo, Adeleke, Awaziem, Shehu, Iwuala, Noble, Iwobi, Balogun, Joe Aribo, Tyronne Ebuehi, Maduka Okoye, Jamilu Collins and Paul Onuachu. (Goal)
•PHOTO: Super Eagles players
Source Daily sports
Posted March 23, 2021
You may also like...
National teams’ performance: Yusuf warns on dangers ahead...
When a 17-year-old Serena showed the tennis world...
NFF shifts focus to 2018 FIFA World Cup...
Guinea-Bissau to play AFCON 2017
Adekuoroye loses first pro fight as Punjab lifts...
Nacho's goal better than my Champions League final...

President’s death forces aquatic federation calendar shake-up
Diamond League announces Amusan for Prefontaine Classic
Chelle receives Agu, Nwaiwu injury boost
Lagos schools gear up for TASG athletics showcase
D’Tigress open W’Cup qualifying campaign with Colombia clash
Onigbide's contributions helped shape Nigeria’s football, NSC mourns ex-Super Eagles coach
Joshua career-earnings per punch recorded at £172k
Onuachu breaks 14-year Trabzonspor goal record
Musa dedicates derby win to Pillars fan
Rivers United’s scoring run thrills Finidi
How Arsenal can win Premier League
NWFL player Ihotu regains freedom after N1.5m ransom
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,606 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,933 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,838 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,464 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,383 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,291 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,165 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,710 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,888 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,403 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,795 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,270 views)