Ighalo, Sadiq, 23 other Super Eagles stars invited for W’Cup playoff against Ghana

Ripples Nigeria

Odion Ighalo and Sadiq Umar have been invited alongside 23 other Nigerian stars for the 2022 World Cup playoffs between the Super Eagles and the Black Stars of Ghana.

Seven players have also been placed on standby, including forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Peter Olayinka, defender Chidozie Awaziem and long-time absentee Ogenyi Onazi.

The provisional list was released on Friday by interim Technical Adviser, Augustine Eguavoen, who had led the team to the second round of January’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

Eguavoen called up Captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, midfielder Wifred Ndidi and forwards Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Also called up were goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.

According to a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Super Eagles camp will open in Abuja on 21st March, with a 24–man final list for the two big games to be released at a later date.

The first leg of the two-legged tie is billed to hold at the Cape Coast Stadium on 25 March while the reverse fixture will hold at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja four days later.

Full Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)