By Adodo Osewengie
The Head Coach, Super Eagles of Nigeria, Augustine Eguavoen has released his 28-man-squad final list for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon from January 6 – February 9, 2022.
Eguavoen aims to win the title in Cameroon after finishing third place 15 years ago, included the recuperating ace Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, Captain Ahmed Musa, and Leicester FC defensive midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, into the squad.
According to the reports by The Trumpet, the Super Eagles who are three-time winners of the trophy, will be contending with the likes of the seven-time winners Egypt, Sudan, and debutant Guinea Bissau in Group D within the northern town of Garoua.
In an opening clash of the titans’ contest in Group D, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be locking horns with the Pharaohs of Egypt on the 11th of January and it is expected of the team to be in their best form.
From his selections, the Head Coach included four goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and 10 forwards with the intent to win the fourth diadem for Nigeria.
It was revealed that all the Super Eagles players plying their profession in the United Kingdom are expected to arrive at the Super Eagles camp on January 3, while the UK-based crew, are expected to arrive in camp in the federal capital territory, Abuja on December 29.
Eguavoen noted that former U17 World Cup-winning captain, Kelechi Nwakali, forward Emmanuel Dennis, and 2016 Olympics star, Sadiq Umar also made the team squad.
THE FINAL LIST OF THE 28-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy)
Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany)
Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England).
