The Super Eagles have dared Serie A club Napoli by picking recuperating striker Victor Osimhen on a 28-man squad for next month’s AFCON, while Emmanuel Dennis and Spain-based midfielder Kelechi Nwakali have also been selected.
Osimhen’s selection has thus ended doubts over his availability for the tournament in Cameroon amid Napoli’s reluctance to release him after his recent facial fractures that sidelined him for over a month now.
Nwakali has yet to make his official debut for the Eagles, while Dennis has been recalled after he last played in a 2021 AFCON qualifier in Sierra Leone in November 2020.
Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who made his full international debut against Cape Verde in November, will have another chance to stake a claim in the team after his fine form in the German Bundesliga.
Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble is the only player from the country’s domestic league, the NPFL.
Notable omissions are injured Genk striker Paul Onuachu, Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma and Tyronne Ebuehi from Venezia.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs/RSA), Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia/CYP), Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam/NED), John Noble (Enyimba)
Defenders: William Ekong (Watford/ENG), Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes/SPA), Leon Balogun (Rangers FC/SCO), Shehu Abdullahi (AC Omonia/CYP), Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor/TUR), Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn/GER), Ola Aina (Torino/ITA), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto/POR), Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates/RSA)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City/ENG), Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca/SPA), Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Frank Onyeka (Brentford/ENG), Joe Aribo (Rangers FC/SCO)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk/TUR), Moses Simon (FC Nantes/FRA), Odion Ighalo (Al Shabab/KSA), Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin/GER), Alex Iwobi (Everton/ENG), Victor Osimhen (Napoli/ITA), Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria/SPA), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City/ENG), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF/SPA), Emmanuel Dennis (Watford/ENG)
I was shocked and disappointed with the exclusion of Kelvin Akpoguma from the squad, his experience is obviously needed for back up if not for starting role in SE. There are few players who are just often times shadow of themselves in SE matches, however I wish SE the best in AFCON