Augustine Eguavoen has released the 32-man provisional list for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off round against the Black Stars of Ghana.
The Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Troost Ekong, midfielder Wifred Ndidi and Nantes’s Moses Simon are some of the recognised names in the list provided by the the Nigeria technical adviser, he also made the first official call up for Leicester City FC of England forward Ademola Lookman, who was recently cleared by FIFA to switch international allegiance.
Other notable names in the list includes Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City, Odion Ighalo, Samuel Chukwueze, Maduka Okoye, Daniel Akpeyi, Kenneth Omeruo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Abdullahi Shehu, Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo.
One of the surprise name on the list is Akinkunmi Amoo who plays as a left winger for Danish club Copenhagen. This will be the first time the former 2018 U-17 World Cup star will be called for the Super Eagles, Watford Emmanuel Dennis who missed out of the Eagles 2021 AfCON campaign due to club issues gets his return alongside defender Calvin Bassey.
There’s a seven-man standby list that includes long-time absentee Ogenyi Onazi, 2021 AFCON strikers Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Olayinka and defender Chidozie Awaziem. The final 24-man list is slated to be realised at a later date.
The first leg of the encounter will see Nigeria take on the Black stars of Ghana at Cape Coast sports stadium in Ghana on Friday, 25th March, with the return leg set to take place in Abuja at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, on Tuesday, 29th March from 6pm Nigerian time.
The winner over the two legs will book their place at the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals, scheduled between 14th November – 18th December this year in Qatar. The Super Eagles camp will open on the 21st of this month in Abuja.
