Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has released a 35-man provisional squad for the 8th African Nations Championship, set to take place next month in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with notable inclusions such as Papa Mustapha Daniel and Sodiq Ismaila.
The CHAN Eagles secured their place in the tournament with a 3-1 aggregate victory over arch-rivals Ghana in the qualifiers.
As part of preparations for the competition, head coach Eric Chelle has assembled a squad featuring a blend of players who have previously debuted for the senior national team and standout performers from the domestic league.
In addition to Papa Mustapha Daniel and Sodiq Ismaila, Coach Eric Chelle also called up Junior Nduka, Waliu Ojetoye, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Saviour Isaac — all of whom were in the travelling squad for the Unity Cup tournament in London.
The provisional list also includes Ebenezer Harcourt, who impressed with the Flying Eagles at the U20 AFCON, as well as Anas Yusuf, the top scorer in the just-concluded Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
Nigeria, runners-up in the 2018 edition, have been placed in Group D of the 19-team tournament, alongside defending champions Senegal, as well as Sudan and Congo.
The team will open their campaign with matches against Senegal and Sudan at the Amman Stadium on the island of Zanzibar, before facing Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Nigeria’s 35-man provisional squad for CHAN
Goalkeepers: Henry Ozoemena Ani (Enyimba FC); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United); Lawal Mustapha (Shooting Stars);Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos)
Defenders: Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Waliu Ojewole (Ikorodu City); Bankole Afeez (Kwara United); Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United); Uzondu Harrison (Ikorodu City); Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars); Mohammed Kabiru (Kwara United); Ngengen Leonard (Ikorodu City); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International); Steven Mayo Egbe (Rivers United)
Midfielders: Adebayo Olamilekan (Remo Stars); Adejoh Ojonugwa (AbiaWarriors); Saviour Isaac (Rangers International); Musa Zayyad (El-Kanemi Warriors); Haddi Haruna (Remo Stars); Otaniyi Taofik (Rivers United);
Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Adam Aminu (Kano Pillars); Michael Tochukwu (Remo Stars)
Forwards: Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United); Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Temitope Vincent (Plateau United); Ijoma Anthony (Abia Warriors); Atule Joseph (Enyimba FC); Ayomide Cole (Ikorodu City); Sunday Megwo (Abia Warriors); Aniekeme Okon (Rivers United); Godwin Obaje (Rangers International).
