Coach Stephen Keshi has invited three members of the Golden Eaglets who won the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup, UAE 2013 and 27 others to begin preparation for the 3rd African Nations Championship in South Africa.
The trio are Kelechi Iheanacho who won the adidas Golden Ball as the Most Valuable Player at UAE 2013 as well as adidas Silver Shoe; Sunday Alampasu won the Best goalkeeper's award and striker Taiwo Awoniyi who finished the competition with three goals.
The list has some of the Super Eagles top home-based stars and Africa Cup of Nationas (AFCON 2013) heroes in Warri Wolves defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Rangers forward Sunday Mba and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim also of Rangers, among others to jostle for shirts in the squad to South Africa 2014.
All the invited players are expected to report to the Bolton White Apartments in Abuja on Monday, December 9.
Speaking on the list, Keshi said that the nation will give CHAN the best shot adding that “We are going to the CHAN for the first time but we want to be the best at our very first outing”.
Nigeria drawn in group A will open their campaign on January 11 against Mali shortly after the opening group A game between the hosts, South Africa and Mozambique.
Meanwhile, a release by Ademola Olajire, Assistant Director (Media) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stated that seven other players have been placed on standby.
The full list:
Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC); Isah Danladi (Sharks FC); Sunday Alampasu (Abuja Football College).
Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Ebenezer Odunlami (Sunshine Stars); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Bright Esieme (Enyimba FC); Yinka Adedeji (Sharks FC); Reuben Ogbonnaya (El-Kanemi Warriors); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars);
Chibuzor Madu (Enugu Rangers).
Midfielders: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers); Etebo Oghenekaro (Warri Wolves); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Ogonna Osuchukwu (Enugu Rangers); Achiv Douglas (Lobi Stars); Kelechi Iheanacho (Taiye Academy, Owerri); Mohammed Ajia (Bayelsa United); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC)
Forwards: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba FC); Barnabas Imenger (Lobi Stars); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers); Ezekiel Mbah (Akwa United); Obiozor Christian (Enugu Rangers); Abubakar Aliyu (Nasarawa United); Gbolahan Salami (3SC); Taiwo Awoniyi (Imperial Academy, Ilorin)
Standby: Happy Okuoka (Heartland FC); Bello Ikeleji (Insurance FC); Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland FC); Izuegbu Abonima (Enugu Rangers); Paul Ikenna (Sunshine Stars); John Austin Igenepo.
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Caption: Kelechi Iheanacho in a world of his own.
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