Super Eagles Head Coach Gernot Rohr, has recalled Odion Ighalo back to the national team ahead of closing Group C games of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde this month.
In the list officially released on Monday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Communications Department, Rohr extended invitation to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ top scorer, who announced his retirement from the international game following that AFCON feat in Egypt.
Other players include; Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi who missed the double-header against Central African Republic, Premier League star Alex Iwobi and Spain-based forward Samuel Chukwueze.
The Super Eagles will battle Lone Star of Liberia at the Grand Stade Tangier in Morocco on Saturday, 13th November and host Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Tuesday, 16th November for the final group clash.
Rohr’s men are top of group C with nine points from their last four games, but trailed by seven-pointer Cape Verde who host Central African Republic (CAR) on the island of Mindelo.
The Eagles need the three points against Liberia to strengthen their grip on qualification before playing host to Blue Sharks three days.
Also listed for the crucial games are regulars like skipper Ahmed Musa, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Maduka Okoye and Chidera Ejuke.
Other players listed are Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, Kevin Akpoguma, Jamilu Collins, Joe Aribo among others.
Invited players and overseas-based members of the technical crew are expected to report directly to the city of Tangier on Monday, 8th November, while technical officials from Nigeria are to report in Tangier the same day.
Mixed reactions have trailed talks about Ighalo’s return to the national team in recent weeks, amid his goal-scoring form this season for Al Shabab.
While some quotas believe his wealth of experience would be relevant to the team, others have deemed his recall as unnecessary and a waste of time.
See Full List Below:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); 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); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
