Eguavoen lists Ekong, Lookman, Osimhen, Simon, 19 others for Benin, Rwanda

Super Eagles’ Interim Manager, Austin Eguavoen, has named Captain William Troost-Ekong, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, and 19 others for the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

Also in the list released, yesterday, by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali, and Maduka Okoye, defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel, as well as, midfielders Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi.   Forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, and Samuel Chukwueze are also on the list.

There is a first call-up for home-based defender, Victor Collins, just as Real Sociedad of Spain striker, Sadiq Umar, will make a return to the team for the first time since the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

The regulars like defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are also listed, while France-based defender Gabriel Osho, will hope to play his first competitive game for his fatherland, after his inability to honour a first call-up in the summer due to injury.

The Super Eagles will fly directly to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on November 11 for the confrontation with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, at the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny, on November 14, before traveling down to Uyo for the final qualifying game against the Amavubi of Rwanda, at the Akwa Ibom Stadium, on November 18.

The full list of players in the squad are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); and Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia).

The defenders are William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England) and Victor Collins (Nasarawa United), while the midfielders include Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany), and Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England).
The attack comprises Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France), and Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain).