Rohr calls Mikel, Musa, 22 others for Algeria, Argentina

Rohr calls Mikel, Musa, 22 others for Algeria, Argentina

By Footyalert → Tuesday, 31 October 2017

Captain Mikel John Obi, forward Ahmed Musa and midfielder Ogenyi Onazi top the list of 24 players that Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has invited for next week’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match away to Algeria, and the prestige friendly with Argentina in Russia four days later.



Goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi also made the cut, as well as defenders Abdullahi Shehu, Leon Balogun and William Ekong, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo.



There is a first call for impressive Deportivo La Coruna of Spain safe hands Francis Uzoho, as well as former U17 World Cup winner Chidiebere Nwakali. Russia -based Brian Idowu has been placed on standby only for the friendly with Argentina.



2013 AFCON winner Kenneth Omeruo is on standby for both matches, alongside former junior international Alhassan Ibrahim, who now plays in Austria.



All invited players are expected to arrive in a camp in Morocco on Monday, 6th November, before the delegation flies to Constantine on Thursday, 9th November.



On Saturday, 11th November, a 45 –seater chartered aircraft will fly the Super Eagles from Constantine to Krasnodar, the Russian city that will host the international friendly against Argentina on Tuesday, 14th November.



THE FULL LIST



Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain)



Defenders: William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England)



Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidiebere Nwakali (Sogndal FC, Norway)



Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Chang Chun-Yatai, China); Henry Onyekuru (RSC Anderlecht, Belgium); Anthony Nwakaeme (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)



STANDBY: Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Alhassan Ibrahim (FK Austria Wien, Austria); Brian Idowu (FC Amkar Perm, Russia)

Messi, Aguero In Argentina Squad To Face Nigeria

Messi, Aguero In Argentina Squad To Face Nigeria

By Footyalert → Monday, 23 October 2017

Argentina's coach, Jorge Sampaoli has named a strong squad that includes Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero for November's friendly against three-time African champions, Nigeria in Russia.


La Albiceleste will take on 2018 FIFA World Cup host, Russia on November 10
at the Krasnodar Stadium and will face Nigeria at the same venue on November 14.

The Super Eagles lost 3-2 to the South Americans when both sides last met at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil


FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers:
 Sergio Romero, Nahuel Guzman, Agustín Marchesin.
Defenders: Gabriel Mercado, Federico Fazio, Javier Mascherano, German Pezzella, Nicolas Otamendi.

Midfielders:
 Eduardo Salvio, Emiliano Rigoni, Lucas Biglia, Leandro Paredes, Matias Kranevitter, Ever Banega, Marcos Acuna, Alejandro Gomez, Diego Perotti

Forwards: 
Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di María, Mauro Icardi

Big Test! Nigeria, Argentina clash in glamour game in Russia

Big Test! Nigeria, Argentina clash in glamour game in Russia

By Footyalert → Sunday, 22 October 2017

Three –time African champions Nigeria and two –time world champions Argentina will square up in a high –profile international friendly in the Russian city of Krasnodar on Tuesday, 14th November 2017, thenff.com can confirm.



NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed at the weekend that nearly all arrangements have been concluded with regards to the big match, subject to approval by world football –ruling body, FIFA and agreeable flight arrangements.



“We have had long and fruitful talks, and we can say that we have an agreement. We await the approval by FIFA and also, we have to agree on the flight arrangements that would be comfortable for the players and crew.



“The match will come up on 14th November, four days after the Super Eagles’ final 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match away to Algeria. We had offers from teams like Iran, Saudi Arabia and Morocco but we have opted for the Argentines,” Sanusi said.



The Eagles take on Algeria’s Fennecs in what is no more than an academic exercise, at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui in Constantine on Friday, 10th November.



Nigeria and Argentina played two high –profile friendly matches in 2011, the first in Abuja in June ending 4-1 in favour of the Super Eagles. The Albiceleste trumped the second encounter 3-1 in Dhaka, Bangladesh three months later.



NFF’s FIFA Match Agent Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, who also organized the friendly matches with the Argentines in 2011 and has been working hard for various Nigerian National Teams in the areas of training camps and friendly games since 2009, told thenff.com: “We are very pleased to be able to deliver such a high –profile game to celebrate the Super Eagles’ 2018 World Cup qualification.



“It was a lot of work over the past week but we are happy this has become reality. We will, in due course, reveal the Nigerian sponsor of the match who will have the match rights in Nigeria.”



While Argentina qualified for Russia on the final day of the South American qualification campaign, the Super Eagles have reached Russia with a match to spare.



Nigeria have had to confront Argentina in four of its previous five FIFA World Cup appearances, starting with a 1-2 defeat in Boston, USA in the African team’s debut in 1994. Argentina won another group phase clash 1-0 in Ibaraki, Japan in 2002, won a similar encounter by the same margin in Johannesburg, South Africa eight years later and then edged the Eagles 3-2 in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2014.



Other famous encounters between both nations include two final matches of the Olympic Men’s Football Tournament – Nigeria edging it in 1996 in America and the Argies winning by the odd goal in China 12 years later.



Argentina will clash will take on World Cup hosts Russia in a friendly on 10th November while the Eagles are playing the Fennecs in Constantine.    

Rohr hails his ‘soldiers’ after ‘difficult game’

Rohr hails his ‘soldiers’ after ‘difficult game’

By Footyalert → Sunday, 8 October 2017

Super Eagles’ Franco-German Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr on Saturday praised his wards for fighting a great battle to overcome Zambia’s Chipolopolo and qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

He said at the post –match conference: “It was a very difficult game, in fact the most difficult for us in the qualifying series because of what was at stake, because we knew a win would take us there and we were eager to finish it off.


“I commend the Zambians for their spirit. They fought very hard. This team was different from the one we defeated in Ndola last year; this was a much better and stronger team.


“I am very happy for the players and for this great nation, for us to qualify with a match in hand. It is a good feeling and after this night, we will begin to plan about how to prepare for the World Cup.


“But we have the final match in Algeria next month, and perhaps we can have a friendly within that window as well and begin the preparation for Russia 2018

Moses, Mikel, Iheanacho aim to increase goals’ tally

Moses, Mikel, Iheanacho aim to increase goals’ tally

By Footyalert → Saturday, 7 October 2017

A total of six players have scored Nigeria’s 10 goals so far in the qualifying race for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

Chelsea FC of England’s Victor Moses has top –scored with three goals, two of them against Algeria’s Fennecs in Uyo in November 2016 (the first and third goals) and the other (the third goal) in the 4-0 whitewash of Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions also in Uyo last month.

Captain Mikel Obi has scored twice, also both at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. He netted the second goal against Algeria in November 2016 and also the second against Cameroon last month.

Forward Kelechi Iheanacho has also scored two goals, the first being the second goal against Zambia in Ndola in October 2016 and the second being the final goal in the 4-0 defeat of Cameroon in Uyo last month.

Other scorers are Arsenal FC of England’s Alex Iwobi (who scored Nigeria’s first goal of the series, in the defeat of Zambia in Ndola in October 2016); Odion Ighalo who scored the opener against African champions Cameroon last month in Uyo and; Belgium –based Moses Simon whose goal shot the Eagles ahead against Cameroon in Yaounde last month.

All six players are available for selection against the Zambians on Saturday.

NIGERIA & ZAMBIA AT SENIOR LEVEL

15 July 1973: Zambia 5 Nigeria 1 – Lusaka (AFCON Qualifier)

29 July 1973: Nigeria 3 Zambia 2 – Lagos (AFCON Qualifier)

14 Feb 1976: Zambia 1 Nigeria 3 – Lusaka (Friendly)

10 Mar 1978: Zambia 0 Nigeria 0 – Accra (AFCON)

25 July 1981: Zambia 3 Nigeria 0 – Lusaka (Friendly)

13 Mar 1982: Zambia 3 Nigeria 0 – Benghazi (AFCON)

10 Aug 1985: Nigeria 0 Zambia 0 – Lagos (AFCON Qualifier)

18 Aug 1985: Zambia 1 Nigeria 0 – Lusaka (AFCON Qualifier)

12 Mar 1990: Zambia 0 Nigeria 2 – Annaba (AFCON S-F)

10 Apr 1994: Zambia 1 Nigeria 2 – Tunis (AFCON Final)

15 Dec 1997: Zambia 2 Nigeria 0 – Lusaka (Friendly)

18 Dec 1997: Zambia 0 Nigeria 0 – Kitwe (Friendly)

13 Jan 2001: Nigeria 1 Zambia 0 – Lagos (AFCON Qualifier)

24 Mar 2001: Zambia 1 Nigeria 1 – Chingola (AFCON Qualifier)

6 Jan 2010: Zambia 0 Nigeria 0 – Durban (Friendly)

25 Jan 2010: Zambia 0 Nigeria 0 (4-5 penalties) – Lubango (AFCON)

15 Nov 2011: Nigeria 2 Zambia 0 – Kaduna (Friendly)

25 Jan 2013: Nigeria 1 Zambia 1 – Nelspruit (AFCON)

9 Oct 2016: Zambia 1 Nigeria 2 – Ndola (World Cup Qualifier

Mikel: Talk Is Cheap, Zambia Must Fall

Mikel: Talk Is Cheap, Zambia Must Fall

By Footyalert → Friday, 6 October 2017

Super Eagles’ captain Mikel John Obi has declared the players have no
need to say too much before Saturday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying
match against Zambia’s Chipolopolo.

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions visit the 2013 winners in a
match of high importance at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
in Uyo, which should determine the swing of Africa’s Group B ticket to
football’s biggest houseparty in Russia next year summer.

“We know how important the match is; that is enough motivation to go
all out and give our very best. There are several players in this team
who have not played at the FIFA World Cup. They want to be there in
Russia next year.

“The talking will be done on the pitch. I have no doubt we have the
quality to achieve victory, but we will not make the mistake of under
–rating the Zambians.”

The former Chelsea FC of England enforcertoldthenff.com that a good
run in the qualifying campaign has been down to focus, determination
and massive support of all Nigerians, and believes the same indices
are in place for Saturday.

“We have played four matches in the campaign so far, but this one is
the match. We are fully focused and ready. All we want is the usual
support and encouragement by everyone involved, including the fans who
will turn out at the match venue.”

Table –toppers Nigeria will qualify for a sixth FIFA World Cup
appearance with the minimum victory on Saturday. The match kicks off
at 5pm

2018 FIFA World Cup: it’s time we wrap this up- Mikel

2018 FIFA World Cup: it’s time we wrap this up- Mikel

By Footyalert → Monday, 2 October 2017

Super Eagles' Captain, Mikel John Obi has declared that though the three –time African champions have respect for 2012 AFCON winners Zambia, the total commitment to ensuring early qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals will see Nigeria wrap up the campaign next weekend.



Captain Mikel, who has had a marvelous run in the qualifying series, playing commendable leadership role, told thenff.com that he is fully dedicated to the assignment of leading his teammates out on the turf of Godswill Akpabio Stadium to secure the sole ticket in Group B on 7th October.



“I must admit that I applaud the resurgence of the Zambians this late in the qualifiers. Beating Algeria home and away is no mean feat. We will take them very serious on 7th October because they clearly have a new spirit. It is time we wrap this up.”



Speaking further on the relative smooth –run the Eagles have had in this campaign compared to earlier FIFA World Cup qualifying races, the former Chelsea FC of England midfielder pin –pointed professionalism, determination and ambition as the factors that have swung the pendulum Nigeria’s way, whilst also heaping praises on Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.



“We have all shown professionalism, dedication and determination to be at the pole position in a group tagged 'Group of Death.'



"Commendations must go to the entire team and the Coach, but we must finish it up in Uyo and secure our ticket right there.”

LMC urge Super Eagles to build on gains of WAFU Experience

LMC urge Super Eagles to build on gains of WAFU Experience

By Footyalert → Wednesday, 27 September 2017

Players and officials of the Super Eagles squad to the just ended West African Football Union (WAFU) tournament in Ghana has received commendation from the League Management Company (LMC) which urged them to build on the lessons learnt from the sub-continental championship for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The players were drawn from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) organized by the LMC.

LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko who was at the finals on Sunday, said he was impressed by the fight in the players that saw them come from the brink of ouster at the group stage to reach the finals.

“Winning the trophy would no doubt have been delightful, but the LMC is happy for the exposure the players have gained from playing in an international tournament of this nature and more importantly, it is a learning curve for them ahead the 2018 CHAN”, stated Dikko.

The LMC described the tournament as a ‘win-win’ for domestic football in Nigeria and the entire West Africa, noting that the strength of West African football can be seen in the dominance of West African teams to recent World Cup tournaments.

Dikko also noted that the tournament has offered the players and coaches more time to bond and understand each other as compared to when they were just invited to camp to play for the CHAN qualifiers, adding, “It is our belief that a lot has been learnt on the side of the coaches and on the side of the players.

Whatever gaps were observed at the WAFU tournament will be the tool to improve the team going forward”.

Nigeria were beaten 4-1 by hosts, Black Stars of Ghana in the final of the resuscitated regional football tournament for countries of West Africa under the umbrella body, WAFU. Other countries that reached the second round group fixtures after the knock-out series were Guinea, Niger, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast and Benin Republic.

Eagles, Black Stars set Cape Coast alight in WAFU Final

Eagles, Black Stars set Cape Coast alight in WAFU Final

By Footyalert → Friday, 22 September 2017

West African juggernauts Nigeria and Ghana will make the grass suffer more than a little bit when they clash in the final of the sub –regional WAFU Cup of Nations at the Cape Coast on Sunday evening.

The Black Stars edged Niger Republic in the second semi final on Thursday to set up a date with the high –flying Super Eagles, who confined the hosts to a 2-0 defeat in a group phase encounter on Monday.


According to the schedule of the final day of competition released by the West African Football Union on Friday, the Squirrels of Benin Republic and the Mena of Niger Republic will be at each other’s jugular for the bronze medals as from 2pm (3pm Nigeria time), with the closing ceremony set to take the centre –stage between 4.35pm and 5pm.


The final match that will see two teams with seven African titles between them locking horns, will start at 6pm Ghana time (7pm Nigeria time)


Nigeria’s Eagles, who are using the tournament to prepare for next year’s 5th African Nations Championship, have taken it somewhat easy here, putting up the effort needed to see off Sierra Leone in the first knock –out round, and then easing to 0-0 draws with Mali and Guinea.


When it mattered, they pulled out the stops to turn back hosts Ghana 2-0 to reach the semi finals, and on Thursday, pipped CHAN qualifying victims Benin Republic by the odd goal to set up Sunday’s clash with the Black Stars.



On their part, the Black Stars got the standard sucker punch, crashing 1-2 to Burkina Faso’s Etalons in Kumasi in the return leg of their CHAN qualifying fixture, after looking to be home-and-dry following a 2-2 draw in Ouagadougou.


The implication is that Ghana’s B team has little to look forward to before the qualifying campaign for the 2020 CHAN, and therefore will throw everything into this encounter to have sweet memories in the meantime.

Nigeria’s Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf, is not perturbed: “We know what they will be up to and what they will be ready to give to take the trophy. We are more than ready to confront them and give them more than they expect.

“The Super Eagles have become used to winning, from winning the CHAN ticket to conquering Sierra Leone and even Ghana here to reach the final, and we cannot stop now. We want that winning mentality to remain all the way to the CHAN finals early next year.”

Rabiu Ali's Beautiful Goal Against Benin #WAFUCup2017

Rabiu Ali's Beautiful Goal Against Benin #WAFUCup2017

By Footyalert →

Now this is a beautiful move from Lobi Stars' striker, Anthony Okpotu. Watch as the Nigeria Professional Football League 2016/17 highest goal scorer drops a perfect pass to Kano Pillars' midfield general, Rabiu Ali.

#SupportTheNPFL

Super Eagles To Face Benin, Ghana Battle Niger

Super Eagles To Face Benin, Ghana Battle Niger

By Footyalert → Wednesday, 20 September 2017

Photo credit @FoxSports

Four countries have made it to the last four of the 2017 West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations in Ghana  scheduled to hold on Thursday September 21.

Tournament hopeful, Nigeria will have another chance to battle Benin Republic after both side won at home in the African Nations Championship qualifier in August. While second placed team in Group B, Niger will face host Ghana in the other semi final match.

Former Champions; Nigeria (2010), Togo (2011), Ghana (2013)

WAFU Cup: Ghana 0-2 Nigeria Highlights

WAFU Cup: Ghana 0-2 Nigeria Highlights

By Footyalert → Tuesday, 19 September 2017

Governor Obaseki splashes N5m on Falconets for Tanzania rout

Governor Obaseki splashes N5m on Falconets for Tanzania rout

By Footyalert → Monday, 18 September 2017

The state leader has donated the cash gift for Christopher Danjuma's side after their win over visitors in the U20 Women's World Cup.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has rewarded the Falconets with a cash gift of five million naira for beating Tanzania 3-0 in the U20 Women's World Cup qualifier in Benin City on Saturday.

Rasheedat Ajibade's brace plus Lilian Tule's opener ensured Christopher Danjuma's ladies overcame their visitors at the packed Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Obaseki, who hosted the delegations of Nigeria and Tanzania for a dinner party at the Banquet Hall, said hosting the encounter was in interest to support women's football and bring back to glory of sports.

He backed the Falconets to subdue the east African in the second leg in Dar-es-Salaam, adding that the cash donation was made to spur the girls to the next stage.

"Certainly, we hope to hosts the Falconets again. This is the first time in a long while we are hosting a national tea," Obaseki told media.

"Edo state government believe in engaging youths through sports and hosting the girls will encourage other young ones to emulate them by building their talents.

"The standard of the match was very high and simply incredible. I was very impressed with the pace, style and accuracy of our girls.

"Certainly, they can see they are much better side - just that they need to be a lot more confident, stable and definitely, they are going to win in Tanzania.

"The donation is a token of support from the state government to the players for making us proud beating Tanzania and motivate them to win the second leg. We will be happy to welcome more teams in Benin."

He further assured that the state is ready to host this year's Nigeria Women Premier League Super Four tournament scheduled to hold from October 9-14 in Benin City.

Nigeria 0-0 Mali (WAFU 2017) - Full Highlights

Nigeria 0-0 Mali (WAFU 2017) - Full Highlights

By Footyalert → Sunday, 17 September 2017

Nigeria 2-0 Sierra Leone (WAFU 2017) - All Goals & Highlights

Nigeria 2-0 Sierra Leone (WAFU 2017) - All Goals & Highlights

By Footyalert →

WAFU adjusts Cup of Nations fixtures

WAFU adjusts Cup of Nations fixtures

By Footyalert → Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Photo credit @foxtv

The West African Football Union has effected adjustment in fixtures of the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations earlier released immediately after the draws held in Accra in August.



In the event, the Nigerian camp has now been informed that instead of playing the Black Stars of Ghana on Thursday, 14th September as it was in the original fixtures, the Super Eagles will now play Mali’s Aiglons in the day’s first match kicking off at 3pm Ghana time (4pm Nigeria time). Guinea’s Syli Nationale will play the Black Stars in Thursday’s second game, also at the Cape Coast Stadium, starting at 7pm Nigeria time.



On Saturday, the Super Eagles will tackle the Syli Nationale also in the day’s first match, before Ghana and Mali will do battle as from 7pm Nigeria time.



The much –anticipated clash between heavyweight rivals Ghana and Nigeria now comes up on Monday, 18th September by 6pm Ghana time (7pm Nigeria time). The second match of the day, between Mali and Guinea, will take place simultaneously at Ndoum Stadium.



2017 WAFU CUP OF NATIONS (REVISED FIXTURES)



THURSDAY, 14TH SEPTEMBER

Nigeria Vs Mali (15.00hrs)

Guinea Vs Ghana (18.00hrs)



SATURDAY, 16TH SEPTEMBER

Guinea Vs Nigeria (15.00hrs)

Ghana Vs Mali (18.00hrs)



MONDAY, 18TH SEPTEMBER

Guinea Vs Mali (18.00hrs)

Ghana Vs Nigeria (18.00hrs)



* All times GMT.

Eagles land in Accra, ready to pluck Leone Stars

Eagles land in Accra, ready to pluck Leone Stars

By Footyalert → Monday, 11 September 2017

The Super Eagles landed in the Ghanaian capital, Accra last night and immediately proceded to the town of Takoradi by road ahead of Monday’s WAFU Cup of Nations Tournament Group A clash with the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone.



The trip to Takoradi, where all the participating teams except host team Ghana are being accommodated, took four hours. Nigeria’s flag-bearers are accommodated at the Best Western Hotel in the twin city of Sekondi.






Eagles’ Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor confirmed to thenff.com that the Nigerian team would depart Takoradi for Cape Coast (one-and-half hours by road) at 3pm on Monday, for the game against the Leone Stars that is scheduled to kick off at 6pm Ghana time (7pm Nigeria time).



Victory over the Leone Stars will take Nigeria into the tournament’s group phase contest that will see the surviving eight teams divided into two groups of four teams each.



Hosts Ghana and Guinea are among the teams that have made it into the group phase, after the Ghanaians survived a tough duel with The Gambia 1-0 and Guinea came from behind to edge Guinea Bissau 2-1.



Mali will tackle Mauritania in Monday’s first match starting at 3pm Ghana time (4pm Nigeria time).



Eagles’ Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf is using the tournament as part of preparations for next year’s 5th African Nations Championship, for which Nigeria has qualified after edging Benin Republic on aggregate.  

Salisu picks Ezenwa, Eduwo, Ali, 15 others for WAFU Cup

Salisu picks Ezenwa, Eduwo, Ali, 15 others for WAFU Cup

By Footyalert → Thursday, 7 September 2017

Head Coach of the home –based Super Eagles squad, Salisu Yusuf has selected goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye, and 16 other players for this month’s West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations tournament for senior national teams taking place in Ghana.



Energetic midfielder Rabiu Ali and forward Kingsley Eduwo, who both scored as the Eagles prevailed 2-0 over Benin Republic in Kano to qualify for next year’s African Nations Championship, are also included alongside defenders Eze Stephen, Chima Akas, Osas Okoro and Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, and midfielders Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Samuel Mathias and Afeez Aremu.



Akwa United’s Gabriel Okechukwu and Ubong Friday, Katsina United Destiny Ashadi, Peter Eneji of NPFL leaders Plateau United and Lobi Stars’ prolific striker Anthony Okpotu are the new faces on board.



Nigeria will play Sierra Leone in the first round of the tournament (which is a knock –out), before eight teams will emerge for a group phase competition. The competition takes place 9th – 24th September.



In the same Group A that has Nigeria, hosts Ghana will play The Gambia, Mali are up against Mauritania and Guinea Bissau will clash with Guinea.



Ghana and Nigeria have seven African titles between them, with the Super Eagles and the Black Stars featuring in the last two FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014).



All the teams in Group A will play in Takoradi, the twin city of Sekondi that also hosted matches during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.



Group B will compete in Cape Coast. 2015 African champions Cote d’Ivoire headline the pool that also has Senegal, Burkina Faso and Benin Republic, with Liberia, Niger Republic, Togo and Cape Verde also involved.



2017 WAFU CUP OF NATIONS



GROUP A (Takoradi)

Ghana Vs The Gambia

Nigeria Vs Sierra Leone

Mali Vs Mauritania

Guinea Vs Guinea Bissau



GROUP B (Cape Coast)

Senegal Vs Liberia

Burkina Faso Vs Niger Republic

Cote d’Ivoire Vs Togo

Benin Republic Vs Cape Verde



FULL LIST OF SUPER EAGLES



Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United)



Defenders: Stephen Eze (FC IfeanyiUbah); Emmanuel Ariwachukwu (Akwa United); Chima Akas (Enyimba FC); Osas Okoro (Rangers International); Adeleye Olamilekan (FC IfeanyiUbah); Daniel James (Plateau United)



Midfielders: Afeez Aremu (Akwa United); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Samuel Mathias (El-Kanemi Warriors); Destiny Ashadi (Katsina United)



Forwards: Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United); Kingsley Eduwo (Lobi Stars); Peter Eneji (Plateau United); Ubong Friday (Akwa United); Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars)