The Crest can confirm that Rotherham United defender Semi Ajayi and Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho will not play any part in Nigeria’s effort to win the African Cup of Nations for the fourth time when the championship starts in Egypt later this month.
Nigeria’ head coach Gernot Rohr has named his final 23-man squad for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament set to kick off less than a fortnight in Egypt.
Coach Rohr made his squad known after the team’s friendly against Zimbabwe on Saturday in Asaba, Delta State, as part of preparations for the competition.
The team will depart for Egypt on Sunday, 9th June aboard a chartered aircraft, set up a final training camp in the city of Ismailia and tackle Africa’s number one–ranked team, Senegal in their final pre-AFCON friendly on Sunday, June 16.
The team will be captained by former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel and also includes deputy skipper Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Ebere Paul Onuachu, Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi, Odion Ighalo, William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Jamilu Collins, Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo.
Nigeria confront Burundi, Guinea and Madagascar in that order in Group B of the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations taking place in four Egyptian cities 21st June – 19th July.
Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2019 AFCON:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China); Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)
