Nigeria, Egypt Announce Provisional Squads For 2018 World Cup

Nigeria have announced their 30-man provisional squad for the 2018 World Cup, with Anderlecht forward Henry Onyekuru the most notable absentee.

The Super Eagles secured their ticket to Russia after finishing top of Group B ahead of Zambia, Cameroon and Algeria in qualifying.

Genor Rohr’s men have been drawn in Group D alongside Argentina, Iceland and Croatia for the tournament that is scheduled to get underway next month.

There is only one South African-based player in the squad as Chippa United’s Daniel Akpeyi was named as one of the four goalkeepers.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United).

Defenders : Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC,); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC); Leon Balogun (Mainz); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv).

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege); Joel Obi (Torino FC), Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City); Moses Simon (KAA Gent); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal); Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars); Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo (Crotone).

Egypt Head Coach Hector Cuper has also named his provisional 30-man squad for the competition.

The Pharaohs of Egypt who will be making a return to the competition after a 27 year absence will be led by Liverpool star forward Mohammed Salah.

The full squad was announced as follows:

Goalkeepers: Essam El-Hadary (Taawoun, Saudi Arabia), Mohamed El-Shennawi (Ahly), Sherif Ekramy (Ahly) and Mohamed Awaad (Ismaily).

Defenders: Ahmed Fathi (Ahly), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa, England), Omar Gaber (Los Angeles FC, USA), Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Al-Fateh, KSA), Saad Samir (Ahly), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich, England), Ali Gabr (West Bromwich, England), Ayman Ashraf (Ahly), Karim Hafiz (Lens, France), Amro Tarek (Orlando City, USA) and Mahmoud “El-Winsh” Hamdy (Zamalek).

Midfielders: Shikabala (Al-Raed, Saudi Arabia), Abdallah El-Said (KuPS, Finland), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mahmoud Kahraba (Ittihad Jeddah, KSA), Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan (Kasimpasa, Turkey), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City, England), Sam Morsy (Wigan, England), Amr Warda (Atromitos, Greece) and Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz (Zamalek)

Strikers: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Marwan Mohsen (Ahly), Ahmed Koka (Sporting Braga, Portugal) and Ahmed Gomaa (Masry)

By: Citi Sports