ABUJA/Nigeria: Ahead of the crucial 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon next month, sports analysts has profiled the players invited to the Super Eagles squad with their club forms so far this season…
Goalkeepers:
NAME: Daniel Akpeyi
CLUB: Chippa United, South Africa
AGE: 31
APPEARANCES: 0
CLEAN SHEET: 0
The Chippa United shot stopper must redeem himself after his shambolic display against South Africa. He remains the first choice for both encounters in Uyo and Yaounde barring any last minute injury. He has not featured for Chippa United this season.
NAME: Ikechukwu Ezenwa
CLUB: FC IfeanyiUbah
AGE: 31
APPEARANCES: 18
CLEAN SHEET: 9
The FC IfeanyiUbah keeper will probably only get a chance to make his debut for the Super Eagles if Daniel Akpeyi sustains any injury. The CHAN Eagles skipper is a capable replacement if the coach on the day picks him.
NAME: Dele Alampasu
CLUB: Feirense
AGE: 21
APPEARANCES: 0
CLEAN SHEET: 0
Dele Alampasu has been promoted at his Portuguese club as the second choice goalkeeper but he remains the Super Eagles’ third choice goalkeeper and may not feature in the double header against Cameroon except the unthinkable happens.
Defenders:
NAME: William Troost Ekong
CLUB: Bursaspor FC, Turkey
AGE: 23
APPEARANCES: 2
GOALS: 0
William Troost-Ekong is gradually establishing himself as a stalwart in the Super Eagles defence line. The Bursaspor defender has featured in the two games his club has played so far this season. Ekong’s defensive capabilities will be tested in both legs against Cameroon with the likes of Christian Bassogog and Vincent Aboubakar leading the attack for the Indomitable Lions.
NAME: Abdullahi Shehu
CLUB: Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus
AGE: 23
APPEARANCES: 1
GOALS: 0
Abdullahi Shehu is one of the most consistent players invited to the squad in the last one year. The defender’s versatility cannot be ignored and his overall performances in the games he has featured in have been very encouraging.
NAME: Leon Balogun
CLUB: FSV Mainz 05, Germany
AGE: 27
APPEARANCES: 0
GOALS: 0
Leon Balogun’s return to the Super Eagles squad is a great boost to the team but is he fully fit to replace Chidozie Awaziem who stood in for him in their defeat at home to South Africa? If fit Balogun remains the best defender Nigeria has at the moment.
NAME: Tyronne Ebuehi
CLUB:ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands
AGE: 23
APPEARANCES: 2
GOALS: 0
He is yet to make his debut for the Super Eagles in an official game and he must churn out an superb performances in training to bench preferred choice Shehu Abdulahi.
NAME: Elderson Echiejile
CLUB: Sivasspor FC, Turkey
AGE: 29
APPEARANCES: 2
GOALS: 0
Elderson Echiejile is the only recognised left-back named in the squad against Cameroon. Echiejile is not as quick as he used to be in the past but his wealth of experience playing in big games will come in handy for the Super Eagles next month.
NAME: Chidozie Awaziem
CLUB: Nantes FC, France
AGE: 21
APPEARANCES: 3
GOALS: 0
Chidozie Awaziem had a day to forget on his debut for the Super Eagles in their 2-0 defeat to South Africa. Since his move to French side FC Nantes, Awaziem is gradually developing and Gernot Rohr will have a big decision regarding starting with him against Cameroon or recalling Leon Balogun who is yet to kick a ball for FSV Mainz this season.
NAME:Ola Aina
CLUB: Hull City, England
AGE: 21
APPEARANCES: 3
GOALS: 0
Ola Aina is a big prospect for the Nigerian senior national team. The Chelsea full back joined Championship side Hull City on loan in search of regular playing time and so far he has featured in all three games for the Tigers this season, but it remains to be seen if he will be cleared by FIFA to represent the Super Eagles.
Midfielders:
NAME: Mikel John Obi
CLUB: Tianjin Teda, China
AGE: 30
APPEARANCES: 6
GOALS: 1
Mikel’s return to the team will bring a lot of experience and stability which the they obviously lacked in his absence.
NAME: Ogenyi Onazi
CLUB: Trabzonspor FC, Turkey
AGE: 24
APPEARANCES: 1
GOALS: 1
Onazi must prove his critics wrong with a stellar performance against Cameroon to banish memories of his abysmal performance against South Africa. The Trabzonspor midfielder failed to lead the younger Eagles to victory in the absence of skipper Mikel Obi. His place will be under threat against Cameroon.
NAME: Wilfred Ndidi
CLUB: Leicester City, England
AGE: 22
APPEARANCES: 3
GOALS: 0
Ndidi performed creditably well replacing Mikel Obi in the middle of the park for the Super Eagles against South Africa. Mikel who missed the encounter due to injury is back in the team and it will be fascinating to be see how coach Gernot Rohr will line up his midfield with the likes of John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi, Ogenyi Onazi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Mikel in the squad.
NAME: Oghenekaro Etebo
CLUB: CD Feirense, Portugal
AGE: 23
APPEARANCES: 3
GOALS: 1
Oghenekaro Etebo warmed the hearts of Nigerians with his wonderful performance for the Super Eagles in their 3-1 home win over Algeria. The former Warri Wolves star seems to have sealed his place in the squad and it will be an uphill battle for other midfielders in the team to bench him.
NAME: John Ogu
CLUB: Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel
AGE: 29
APPEARANCES: 8
GOALS: 1
ASSISTS:2
John Ogu has been impressive for his Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva but has rarely featured for Gernot Rohr’s side. His only game under Rohr was in a friendly against Senegal in London and he was not listed in the matchday squad in their last defeat to South Africa.
NAME: Mikel Agu
CLUB: Bursaspor FC, Turkey
AGE: 22
APPEARANCES: 2
GOALS: 0
ASSISTS:0
Mikel Agu will be back-up to the midfield quintet of John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi, Ogenyi Onazi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Mikel Obi.
Forwards:
NAME: Ahmed Musa
CLUB: Leicester City, England
AGE: 25
APPEARANCES: 1
GOALS: 1
ASSISTS:0
Musa got of the mark for Leicester City in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup fixture and he is one of the most experienced attackers listed for the crucial encounter. His pace down the flanks will definitely be a great asset for the team.
NAME: Kelechi Iheanacho
CLUB:Leicester City, England
AGE: 20
APPEARANCES: 1
GOALS: 0
ASSISTS:0
Kelechi Iheanacho has a lot to prove to many Nigerians if he does get a chance to feature in this encounter. Iheanacho, according to his club coac, Craig Shakespeare, is not fully fit and having seen just nine minutes of action in the English Premier League, his place may be taken over by Odion Ighalo who makes a return to the team after missing the last game.
NAME: Moses Simon
CLUB: KAA Gent, Belgium
AGE: 21
APPEARANCES: 2
GOALS: 0
ASSISTS:0
Moses Simon gets a chance to prove his last performance in an Eagles shirt against South Africa was not a one-off.
NAME: Alex Iwobi
CLUB: Arsenal FC, England
AGE: 21
APPEARANCES: 1
GOALS: 0
ASSISTS:0
Alex Iwobi must improve on his last outing against South Africa, where he looked lost.
NAME: Odion Ighalo
CLUB: Changchun Yatai, China
AGE: 27
APPEARANCES: 21
GOALS: 11
ASSISTS:3
Odion Ighalo has a lot to prove on his return to the team. The former Watford star is the one of the few Nigerian strikers to have hit double figures this season.
NAME: Victor Moses
CLUB: Chelsea FC, England
AGE: 26
APPEARANCES: 1
GOALS: 0
ASSISTS:0
Regarded as Nigeria’s most prolific winger at the moment, Moses is expected to shoulder Super Eagles’ creative role from the flanks and the goal responsibilities against Cameroon.
NAME: Anthony Nwakaeme
CLUB: Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel
AGE: 28
APPEARANCES: 7
GOALS: 5
ASSISTS:3
Anthony Nwakaeme finally gets his chance to prove his mettle in the colours of Nigeria.
