Salami absent as Oliseh names final CHAN 2016 team

Coach Sunday Oliseh has named the final 23 players that will represent the country in Rwanda for CHAN 2016.

Conspicuously missing from the list is runaway captain of the team, Gbolahan Salami, who left the camp reportedly to seal a deal abroad.

Salami would be deemed ineligible to participate in the championship if he were to sign for any club outside the continent, as the African Nations Championship is for African players who play in their domestic leagues.

Number one goalie, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, leads other two shot stoppers, Femi Thomas and Okemute Odah.

In the defence, there are Austin Oboroakpo, Stephen Eze, Samson Gbadebo, Jamiu Alimi, Chris Madaki, Chima Akas, Etim Matthew and Kalu Orji.

Super Sand Eagles player, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu leads the pack in the choice of midfield, which includes Bature Yaro, Paul Onobi, Osas Okoro, Ezekiel Bassey, Bright Onyedikachi, Usman Mohammed and Ifeanyi Matthew.

Four attackers in the persons of Salawu Attah, Tunji Adeniji, Prince Aggreh and Chisom Chikatara lead the Nigerian front.

The team, together with the technical and backroom staff, arrived Pretoria, South Africa, where they will be camped before Rwanda 2016, on Saturday.

Two friendly matches against Angola (on January 6) and Cote d’Ivoire (on January 11) have already been planned for the team to get them for the hostilities in the East African nation.

The Nigerian football federation revealed that Oliseh left before the players and crew, from his base in Belgium, where he has been receiving treatment over an undisclosed ailment.

He is expected to be in charge of the team in their Group C clashes against CHAN 2011 winners Tunisia, Niger Republic and Guinea when they tackle each other at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo, Kigali, where the group’s games will hold.

SUPER EAGLES CHAN 2016 SQUAD

Goalkeepers:

Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba FC); Okiemute Odah (Warri Wolves)

Defenders:

Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors); Kalu Orji Okogbue (Enugu Rangers); Jamiu Alimi (Shooting Stars); Mathew Etim (Enugu Rangers); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Stephen Eze (Sunshine Stars); Christopher Madaki Maichibi (Giwa FC); Samson Gbadebo (Lobi Stars)

Midfielders:

Ifeanyi Mathew (El-Kanemi Warriors); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Yaro Bature (Nasarawa United); Bartholomew Ibenegbu (Warri Wolves); Ibrahim Attah Salau (Shooting Stars)

Forwards: Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah); Chisom

Osas Okoro (Enugu Rangers); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah); Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors); Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars)