The Nigeria men’s senior national team, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has named his 23-man squad ahead of the Qatar 2022 double qualifying encounters against the Central African Republic in Lagos and Douala next week.
Rohr’s men will take on the Central African Republic on October 7 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos before travelling to Douala, Cameroon (presently the ‘home’ of CAR national teams) for the return fixture three days later.
The team list was released in a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Communications Department on Thursday.
Captain Musa leads the line at the fore, with in-form France –based Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Chidera Ojuke, Paul Onuachu, among others called up.
21-year-old Calvin Bassey who plays for Scottish giants Rangers as a left-back/centre-back was handed his maiden Nigeria call-up while Lorient forward Terem Moffi has been dropped.
With enforcers Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo out injured, the lot falls on Frank Onyeka and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo to replicate their firm handling of things in the middle in Mindelo, when the Central African Republic comes calling on Thursday and in Douala on Sunday. Rohr has now listed England –based duo Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho in the midfield.
Nigeria already kicked off their campaign in the qualifiers on brighter note with two winnings in their first two games and are currently the group C leaders with six points. Victory in both games will all but guarantee the Super Eagles’ passage to the all-important knockout rounds scheduled for March 2022, which will produce Africa’s five flagbearers in Qatar.
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