Super Eagles Head Coach, Augustine Eguavoen has handed Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman his first call up to the Nigeria national team.
Lookman successfully switched his nationality from the Three Lions of England to the Super Eagles and has quickly received an invitation to represent Nigeria in Eguavoen’s 32-man provisional squad.
Nigeria will face the Black Stars of Ghana in the FIFA 2022 World Cup African play-offs, with the first leg scheduled to hold in Accra on March 25, 2022 and the return leg in Abuja on March 29.
Eguavoen has also recalled Napoli forward Victor Osimhen and Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis who both were unable to participate during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Glasgow Rangers centre half Leon Balogun has been recall to the side alongside teammate, Calvin Bassey. Also returning to the side are Odiong Jude Ighalo, Oghenekaro Etebo and former Under-17 starlet anf FC Copenhagen’s midfielder Akinkunmi Amoo.
While Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Olayinka, Chidozie Awaziem and long-time absentee Ogenyi Onazi are on a seven-man standby list, with Everton’s Alex Iwobi and Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah missing out completely.
Meanwhile, the camp will open in Abuja on 21st March, 2022 as the 24-man final list for the two big games will be released at a later date.
Nigeria will subsequently take on Ghana in the 20,000 capacity Cape Coast Sports Stadium by 7.30pm on Friday 25th March, with the second leg set for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 29th March by 6pm.
The winner over two legs will secure one of Africa’s five tickets to the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals scheduled for 14th November – 18th December this year in Qatar.
FULL 32-man provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Akinkunmi Amoo (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England)
Standby: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Peter Olayinka (SK Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Ogenyi Onazi (Al-Adalah FC, Saudi Arabia).
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