Abuja
— West Ham winger, Victor Moses has been recalled to the national team
by Super Eagles care-taker coach Samson Siasia for the double-header
against Egypt later this month.
Moses has not
played for Nigeria since his celebrated fall-out with former coach
Stephen Keshi at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
He similarly
rejected an olive branch by the immediate past coach Sunday Oliseh, for
the friendly matches against DR Congo and Cameroun in Belgium, last year
saying he wanted to focus on his club football.
He is one of the 20
foreign-based players listed in the 42-man squad summoned for the two
Group G matches billed for Kaduna on March 25 and Alexandra, four days
later.
Siasia also invited
Aaron Samuel, who was a main vertebrae of the team under Keshi but was
frozen out by Oliseh in 14 official engagements.
Some few surprise
call ups too as Siasia gambled with a few new comers. They include
Fenando Adi of Portland Timbers of USA, Stanley Amuzie of Olhanense FC,
Portugal and Aminu Umar, who plays for Osmanlispor FK, Turkey.
"I believe in the
players I have listed and I want to passionately appeal to Nigerians,
give us total support. It will not be easy, but we will triumph. I will
give everything that I have to offer for us to win both matches. The six
points are very crucial," Siaisia said.
The foreign legionnaires will be joined by 22 home-based players who will open camp in Abuja on Sunday.
Though Siasia
intensified talks to convince former goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and
hit-man Emmanuel Emenike out of retirement, he admitted failure in
landing the duo.
According to him,
Enyeama, who fell out with Oliseh in Belgium, told him international
football was no longer his priority. Siasia said he asked Enyeama to
inform him when he is ready to play for the country once again as his
experience can still be relied upon.
Siasia, who
stressed the essence of the Africa Cup of Nations fixtures against
Egypt, said that Nigeria could not afford to lose the home tie to the
Pharaohs.
He disclosed that
the NFF has helped him to acquire about six video tapes of the past
games of the Pharaohs, which he is currently studying, adding that the
tapes would guide him in mapping out his strategies to beat them in
Kaduna.
The ex
international however, expressed his worries about the weather in
Kaduna, saying that the his band of foreign based players might struggle
to cope with the heat.
Siasia also
expressed worries over the availability of his selected home-based
players due to their full involvement in the Nigeria Professional
Football League, (NPFL), which has just resumed.
He appealed to the
Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), to convince the League Management
Company, (LMC) to suspend the midweek league actions in order that the
local players can focus and concentrate on the task against Egypt,
especially as the matches would be on week days.
FOREIGN-BASED PROFESSIONALS:
Goalkeepers:
Carl Ikeme, Wolves, England; Daniel Akpeyi, Chippa United, South Africa.
Defenders:
Kenneth Omeruo,
Kasimpasa FC; Turkey, Efe Ambrose, Celtic FC, Scotland; Elderson
Echiejile, AS
Monaco, France; Stanley Amuzie, Olhanense FC, Portugal;
Abdullahi Shehu, Uniao da Madeira, Portugal; Godfrey Oboabona, Caykur
Rizespor, Turkey.
Midfielders:
Ogenyi Onazi, Lazio, Italy; John Mikel Obi, Chelsea FC, England;
Kelechi Iheanacho, Manchester City, England; Azubuike Okechukwu, Yeni Matalyspor, Turkey.
Forwards:
Odion Ighalo,
Watford FC, England; Aaron Samuel, CSKA Moscow, Russia; Alex Iwobi,
Arsenal FC, England; Fanendo Adi, Portland Timbers, USA, Ahmed Musa,
CSKA Moscow, Russia; Moses Simon, Gent, Belgium; Victor Moses, West Ham,
England; Aminu Umar Osmanlispor FK, Turkey.
Goalkeepers:
Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Olufemi Thomas (Enyimba FC); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)
Defenders:
Kalu Orji Okogbue
(Enugu Rangers); Chibuzor Okonkwo (FC IfeanyiUbah); Mathew Etim (Enugu
Rangers); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors); Sincere Seth (Rhapsody FC);
Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys); Chima Akas (Akwa United); Chris Madaki (Kano
Pillars); Oke Ogogatewho (Sunshine Stars)
Midfielders:
Ifeanyi Mathew
(Kano Pillars); Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba); Etebo Oghenekaro (Warri
Wolves); Yau Hassan (Wikki Tourists); Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves)
Forwards:
Ezekiel Bassey
(Enyimba FC); Prince Aggrey (Kano Pillars); Bright Onyedikachi (FC
IfeanyiUbah); Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors); Godwin Obaje (Wikki
Tourists).
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