FIFA
World Cup: Ighalo called up after two-year absence
Nigeria’s top scorer Odion Jude Ighalo has been invited by the Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, to participate in the closing Group C games of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 African race against Liberia and Cape Verde in November.
Ighalo had announced his retirement from international football in 2019 after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
Rohr also invited team captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Leon Balogun; midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi; forwards Moses Simon and Victor Osimhen for the competition this month.
Nigeria is billed to face Liberia at the Grand Stade Tangier in Morocco on Saturday, 13th November.
The Super Eagles will then fly back to Lagos for the final group game against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday, 16th November.
The invited players and overseas-based members of the technical crew are 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.
Nigeria is at the top of group C with nine points with Cape Verde trailing closely with seven points.
Cape Verde will host Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo.
The Super Eagles need 3 points against Liberia to consolidate their position at the top.
Leicester City of England’s midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, who missed the last round of games home-and-away against the Central African Republic, is back in the squad, just as fellow Premiership boy Alex Iwobi and Spain-based forward Samuel Chukwueze.
The invited players include:
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 Paderborn 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 (Glasgow 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)
