Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has shortlisted team captain, Middlesborough mid fielder,John Obi Mikel, Arsenal striker, Alex Iwobi, Leicester mid fielder,Wilfred Ndidi and 22 others to take part in the 2019 AFCON scheduled to take place in Egypt.
Mikel’s inclusion was a huge doubt since he never took part in the qualifiers. The last time he played for the Eagles was in Russia during the World Cup last year.
Pacy winger, Ahmed Musa, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Abdullahi Shehu made the squad to AFCON.
Roht kept faith with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defenders Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon.
Six players were placed on standby. They are defenders Ikouwem Utin, who recently completed a move to Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League and Valentine Ozornwafor who has also been named in Nigeria’s final 21 for the FIFA U20 World Cup starting in Poland next week.
Russian born defender, Bryan Idowu alongside Portugal-based Mikel Agu and Egypt-based Junior Ajayi, and home-based goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai, are also on standby.
The invited players are expected to report at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Asaba, Delta State on Sunday, June 2.
Nigeria confront Burundi, Guinea, and Madagascar in that order in Group B.
The tournament will run from June 21 to July 19.
