Arsenal's Alex Iwobi dropped in coach Rohr's first list of invitees for Tanzania clash

NEW Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has published his first list of invitees for next month's African Nations Cup qualifier against Tanzania that surprisingly does not contain the name of Arsenal playmaker Alex Iwobi.

 

Die to take place in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the match on September 3, is a formality as Nigeria can no longer qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup. However, recently-appointed German coach Rohr will be hoping to use his first match to make a statement and start his building ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

 

According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the list is headed by captain Mikel Obi and goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and includes three goalkeepers, eight defenders, four midfielders and eight strikers. Midfielder Nosa Igiebor is making a return to the team after last featuring for the Eagles in 2014 before missing out of the team to the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

 

 Iwobi’s exclusion comes as a surprise after his impressive performances in his six caps for the national team. Other midfielders in the list include Trabzonspor’s Ogenyi Onazi, Belgium-based Wilfred Ndidi and Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho.

 

National U-23 goalkeeper, Emmanuel Daniel, and FC Ifeanyi Ubah’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa were named along with Ikeme as goalkeepers, while Kano Pillars’ Jamiu Alimi was named in the defence along with Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Chidozie Awaziem, Abdullahi Shehu, Musa Muhammed, Elderson Echiejile and Kingsley Madu. Assistant captain Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Victor Moses, Imoh Ezekiel, Odion Ighalo, Brown Ideye and youngster Victor Osimhen were named in the attack.

 

All the players have been directed to report in Uyo by August 28.

 

Full list:

Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC Ifeanyi Ubah)

 

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

 

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)

 

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Imoh Ezekiel (Al-Arabi Sporting Club, Qatar), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany).