Four home-based players invited to Super Eagles camp for tomorrow's friendly against Liberia

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has announced an 18-man squad involving four new home-based players for the team's next friendly match against Liberia taking place on Tuesday in Monrovia.

Having beaten Seychelles in their 2019 African nations Cup qualifier on Saturday, the Eagles will now travel to Monrovia to lock horns with Liberia at the invitation of President George Weah, the former World Footballer of the Year. After the Seychelles match, Mr Rohr has decided to rest some of his players and has invited four fresh faces including Mfon Udoh  and Sunday Adetunji of Enyimba, FC Ifeanyi Ubah’s Adeleye Olamilekan and Ebube Duru of Lobi Stars to camp.

Of the quartet, Lobi Stars left full back Duru was the major surprise as he was invited ahead of Enyimba’s Udoh, who most football commentators had expected to be called up. Udoh, 20, who is the captain of the Nigeria U20 team has been heavily involved with both the Nigerian youth team and Enyimba in their Caf Confederation Cup campaign unlike Duru who has not played in three months.

Duru like most players in the Nigeria Professional Football League have been caught up in the ongoing leadership tussle within the Nigeria Football Federation, which put a halt to the league resuming after the World Cup. However Duru did enough to convince Rohr of his ability in the B team friendly game against Atletico Madrid just before the World Cup,  where he played well.

 Full List of 18 players:

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

Defenders: Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Adeleye Olamilekan (FC IfeanyiUbah); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Ebube Duru (Lobi Stars)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Kelechi Nwakali (FC Porto, Portugal); Joel Obi (AC Chievo Verona, Italy)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Sunday Adetunji (Enyimba FC); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Mfon Udoh (Enyimba FC)