One of the shinning home-based stars in Super Eagles recent series of international friendlies, Nelson Ogbonnaya of Heartland, has been dropped from the list of players expected to join their foreign-based counterparts in the final preparations for Nigeria’s Gabon 2017 African Nations Cup qualifier against Chad on June 13.
Ogbonnaya, a central defender, was the revelation in the team led by Former Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi, to friendlies against Uganda and South Africa.
The home-based players in the list released by Keshi yesterday include goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, as well as defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Chima Akas.
The midfielder in the list is Bright Onyedikachi, while Gbolahan Salami and Ikechukwu Gabriel are the strikers in the list.
Keshi said the retained players would be joined by the 15 invited foreign-based professionals for the final phase of preparations for Nigeria’s opening 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna next weekend.
He urged the players, who failed to make the cut not to be discouraged, but to work harder to keep themselves among the pool of players that could be called up for future national team assignments.
Meanwhile, Keshi has allowed players of Warri Wolves in his team to rejoin their club for this weekend’s CAF Confederation Cup playoff second leg against AC Leopards of Congo.
The game comes up on Saturday, June 6 at the Warri Township Stadium.
The Nigerian representatives lost the first leg 3-0, but are confident they can turn things around in Saturday’s return leg.
The players are Daniel Akpeyi, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Gbolahan Salami. They are expected to return to the Super Eagles camp immediately after the game.
No comments:
Post a Comment