Nigeria’s upcoming friendly fixtures against Iran and Jordan in a four-nation tournament are crucial for head coach Eric Chelle. The gaffer will be hoping to integrate new invites, test squad depth, revise formations, and build team cohesion in a bid to strengthen the team even further.
Rising tensions in the Middle East initially cast doubts over the feasibility of the tournament. However, key concerns have now been addressed after the tournament venue was moved from Jordan to Turkey.
The Super Eagles will face off against Iran on March 27th, while Jordan and Costa Rica will clash on the same day. 4 days later, on the 31st, Nigeria will battle Jordan while Costa Rica and Iran face off. Jordan and Iran will be hoping to seize the opportunity in preparation for the World Cup. Iran’s participation, however, remains to be seen as tensions in the Middle East continue to rage.
Key Players Missing
Some big names were omitted from Eric Chelle’s squad list, most notably Victor Osimehn and Stanley Nwabali. Victor Osimhen fractured his arm early on in Galatasaray’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool in their UEFA Champions League Quarter-final clash, and his absence is a no-brainer. Stanley Nwabali has been without a team since February after requesting to leave his South African club, Chippa United. A lack of match fitness has prompted Eric Chelle to go for other available goalkeepers, and his guaranteed starting spot is now up for grabs.
First Time Call-ups
Nigeria’s biggest strength is perhaps its vast pool of untapped foreign talent that could still appear for the country. Eric Chelle has wasted no time in identifying and approaching some of these players in a bid to strengthen his team. Most of these players who ply their trades in Europe are lighting up their respective leagues.
For this squad, the coach has handed first-time call-ups to three players – Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez, Genk attacker Yira Collins Sor, and Hamburger SV forward Philip Otele.
Fernandez is a 6 ‘4 defender whose performances for Rangers have caught the eye this season, making 26 appearances and scoring 6 goals. Yira Sor is a winger who has been called the fastest player in Europe by his club. The attacker brings blistering pace and directness to the national team and could provide healthy competition on the wings. Philip Otele is another winger who offers a different set of characteristics, giving another dimension to the team’s dynamism. The plethora of options and potential additions still to be made are problems any coach will be happy to have.
Full Squad List
Goalkeepers
Francis Uzoho
Maduka Okoye
Adebayo Adeleye
Defenders
Igoh Ogbu
Zaidu Sanusi
Calvin Bassey
Bruno Onyemaechi
Oluwasemilogo Ajayi
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Emmanuel Fernandez
Midfielders
Alex Iwobi
Wilfred Ndidi
Frank Onyeka
Raphael Onyedika
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
Forwards
Akor Adams
Philip Otele
Moses Simon
Chidera Ejuke
Paul Onuachu
Yira Collins Sor
Ademola Lookman
Samuel Chukwueze
