Super Eagle coach, Gernot Rohr, has dropped the trio of Victor Moses, Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo in the 25-man list for the planned camping programme in France and the international friendly match against the Corsica senior national team later this month.
In place of the trio, the national team gaffer opted for three local league players, Stephen Odey and Sikiru Olatunbosun of Mountain of Fire and Miracle FC and Akwa United’s Alhassan Ibrahim.
The German tactician also handed Victoria Setubal of Portugal’s Mikel Agu a call up to the national team.
Injury ruled out first choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Championship, leaving home-based Ikechukwu Ezenwa to fight it out with fellow former junior international Dele Alampasu for the slot between the sticks.
England-based duo Ola Aina (Chelsea FC) and Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC) have been granted permission to feature for their respective clubs in the English FA Cup final on May 27 before joining the squad in Paris.
The three-time African champions will open camp in Corsica on May 24 and then play against the Corsica Senior team on two days later, before moving camp to Paris, capital of France, for the second phase of the camping programme ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
Nigeria, unbeaten in a competitive game at senior level by South Africa since the Rainbow Nation returned to international football 25 years ago, go up against the familiar foes at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on June 10.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal)
Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Ekong (KAA Gent, Belgium); Uche Agbo (CF Granada, Spain); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Gijon, Spain); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United FC)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Stephen Odey (MFM FC); Olanrewaju Kayode (FC Austria Wien, Austria); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Noah Serenren-Bazee (Hannover 96, Germany); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany); Sikiru Olatubosun (MFM FC)
TO JOIN TEAM IN PARIS AFTER ENGLISH FA CUP FINAL
Ola Aina (Chelsea FC, England), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England).
