Mikel, Moses make Rohr’s list for Zambia clash

Super Eagles’ technical adviser Gernot Rohr has called up captain John Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and 20 other players for the October 7 must win 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown against the Chipolopolo of Zambia. 

The match will take place in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom state.

Skipper Mikel and forward Ighalo, both based in China, and England-based Victor Moses, who bossed the two encounters against Cameroon earlier this month, retained their places.

Portugal-based goalkeeper Dele Alampasu could not make the list alongside wing back Tyronne Ebuehi and South Africa-based Daniel Akpeyi.

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi will be missing in action as a result of injury.

The list comprises the same set of players who decimated the Indomitable Lions. They are defenders Leon Balogun, Abdullahi Shehu, William Ekong and Elderson Echiejile; midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Ogenyi Onazi and Oghenekaro Etebo and forwards Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, and Anthony Nwakaeme.

Two home-based professionals, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Afeez Aremu, who were part of the Super Eagles B that finished as runners-up at the just-concluded WAFU Cup of Nations in Ghana, are in the standby sector but will join the team’s training sessions in Uyo.

All invited players are to be in Uyo on Monday, October 2, 2017.

The full list of the invited players:

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Ayodele Ajiboye (Plateau United FC)

Defenders: William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Elderson Echiejile (Sivasspor FC, Turkey); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Chang Chun-Yatai, China); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Anthony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

STANDBY: Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Aaron Samuel (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Afeez Aremu (Akwa United); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United)