Enyeama, Emenike Missing As Siasia Names Squad For Egypt Clash
SAN FRANCISCO, March 03, (THEWILL) – Super Eagles caretaker coach, Samson Siasia, has picked 42 players for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt later this month without naming Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike.
The duo had 'resigned' from the team under the former coach, Sunday Oliseh, in controversial circumstances with Nigerians calling for their return.
Siasia who along with Emmanuel Amuneke and Salisu Yusuf were picked to fill the gap created by the resignation of Sunday Oliseh from the Eagles job last Friday, selected 22 players from the domestic Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and 20 foreign based players for the double-header battle.
The list includes uncapped Fanendo Adi, Stanley Amuzie, Umar Aminu.
Adi, 25, scored 19 goals last season for Portland Timbers to clinch a first-ever MLS championship, while Aminu has been in superlative form for Turkish Super League club Osmanlispor and Portugal-based defender Amuzie has bounced back after a long-term knee injury he suffered early last year on duty with the Nigeria Under-23 team under Siasia's watch.
Eagles are to play the first leg against Egypt on March 25 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna with the return leg in Alexandria four days later.
The squad is dominated by several players who have worked with Siasia in the Under-23 team –skipper Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Segun Oduduwa, Oghenekaro Etebo, Emmanuel Daniel and Stanley Dimgba.
Siasia also invited the core of the players Sunday Oliseh has worked with during his eight-month stint including goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, Efe Ambrose, Shehu Abdullahi, John Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Moses Simon.
See the full list:
(Home Based)
Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Femi Thomas, Emmanuel Daniel, Kalu Orjiu, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Matthew Etim, Austin Obaroakpo, Sincere Seth, Oke Ogogatevwo,Yau Hassan, Chima Akas, Segun Oduduwa, Chris Madaki, Ifeanyi Matthew, Usman Mohammed, Oghenekaro Etebo, Stanley Dimgba, Ezekiel Bassey, Chisom Chikatara, Prince Agrrey and Godwin Obaje.
(Foreign Based)
Carl Ikeme, Daniel Akpeyi, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile, Amuzie Stanley, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Okechukwu, John Obi Mikel, Ogenyi Onazi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Aaron Samuel, Umar Aminu, Victor Moses and Fanendo Adi.
Meanwhile, CAF has appointed Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe as the centre referee for the encounter. Sikazwe will be assisted by Arsenio Chadreque Marengula from Mozambique (assistant referee 1), while two other Zambians, Romeo Kasengele and Wisdom Chewe, will serve as assistant referee 2 and reserve referee respectively.
Story by David Oputah