Nigeria

  • 2018 World Cup: No changes to Nigeria squad to face Zambia

    Nigeria have named an unchanged 23-man squad for the crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia next month.

    The Super Eagles face 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners Zambia at home in the south-eastern city of Uyo on 7 October.

    If Nigeria can win the tie they will seal a sixth World Cup appearance.

    Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi is named again after he was forced to withdraw from September’s two games against Cameroon due to injury. Group B after four matches Nigeria 10 pts Zambia 7 pts Cameroon 3 pts Algeria 1 pts

    Leicester trio of Ahmed Musa, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho are also included, while former England youth international Ola Aina could make his long awaited debut.

    Experienced China-based duo of captain John Mikel Obi and Odion Ighalo, as well as Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses complete a strong squad.

    “I’m happy to be called up again because it’s always a great honour to play for my country,” Ighalo told BBC Sport.

    “We know Zambia is a strong team and they will come with full determination in Uyo, we cannot not engage in irrelevant pre-match talking but deliver on the pitch.

    “I’ve never played at the World Cup and like my other colleagues we all want to be in Russia, this is like a final for us.”

    The Super Eagles are top of Group B with ten points, while Chipolopolo lie second with seven points following a 1-1 draw with Cameroon and home and away triumphs over Algeria.

    Three-time African champions Nigeria first appeared at the World Cup in 1994, where they reached the second round. They also played at the 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 tournaments.

    Nigeria squad:

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

    Defenders William Troost-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); Ola Aina (Hull City, England)

    Midfielders: John Mikel 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 and 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)

    Source: bbc.com

  • You can’t be rich playing for Nigeria – Okocha

    Former Nigeria skipper Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has warned the country’s Olympic team in Rio they cannot become rich simply by playing for Nigeria.

    Money problems have marred the team’s march to the semi-finals of the Rio Olympics, just as they did two years ago when the Super Eagles also held the country to ransom before they were paid appearance bonuses also in Brazil.

    Okocha, who clocked 43 years on Sunday, has now told the latest edition of the Dream Team they should rather be proud they are representing Nigeria than hope to make money doing so.

    “You can’t get rich playing for Nigeria, you will get exposure and touch lives,” Okocha said as he marked his birthday with a visit to internally displaced people.

    “We have to look beyond match bonuses when playing for our country.” ‘Jay Jay’ recalled how his turning professional in Germany wiped out poverty from his family.

    “The decision to take the flight to Germany took away poverty from my family,” he recounted.

    Okocha, who won Olympic Gold in 1996 and featured at three World Cups, played for Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany), PSG (France), Fenerbache (Turkey), Bolton, Hull City (England) and in Qatar before he finally quit the game.



    Source: Vanguard

     

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