Eguavoen names final Super Eagles 28-man squad for AFCON

Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen has revealed his 28-man squad for the 2021 AFCON scheduled to kick off on January 9th 2022. The ex-international has named captain Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo and William Troost-Ekong in the squad for the tournament.

Almeria striker Sadiq Umar, SD Huesca midfielder Kelechi Nwakali, Watford hotshot Emmanuel Dennis, Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah were included in the squad for the tournament in Cameroon.

Watford midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo and KRC Genk striker Paul Onuachu both miss out through injury, while goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Victor Osimhen recovered sufficiently to be named on the squad.

The squad for AFCON in full:

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus), Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), John Noble (Enyimba, Nigeria).

Defenders: Leon Balogun (Rangers, Scotland), William Troost-Ekong (Watford, England), Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes, Spain), Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus), Ola Aina (Torino, Italy), Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Jamilu Collins (Paderborn 07, Germany), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa).

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Joe Aribo (Rangers, Scotland), Alex Iwobi (Everton, England).

Forwards: Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy), Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey), Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Odion Ighalo (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England), Moses Simon (Nantes, France), Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany), Sadiq Umar (Almeria, Spain), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal, Spain), Emmanuel Dennis (Watford, England).

The Super Eagles will play their first match at AFCON on January 11th against the Pharaohs of Egypt, and will be looking to make a good start to the competition.

There are a few pleasant surprises in the list, with South Africa-based defender Olisa Ndah making the cut after a brilliant season in the NPFL with Akwa United that saw him named in the Team of the Season. Also, Kelechi Nwakali has been drafted in as an attacking midfielder to possibly help solve the crisis in that department.

According to ex-NFF Committee member and Media Officer for Flying Eagles, Tobi Adepoju, the team is expected to resume AFCON camping on December 29th in Nigeria, before jetting out on January 5th to the venue of the competition.

After a third place finish in 2019, the Super Eagles will be aiming to improve and pick up the coveted AFCON trophy this time around with Eguavoen at the helm of affairs.