Izuchukwu OkosiThe trio of Nigerian-born England internationals Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Eberechi Eze were not named in England’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar released on Thursday reports Prime Business Africa.
Abraham and Tomori who play for AS Roma and AC Milan in the Italian Serie A respectively have officially been capped by Three Lions during the Euro 2020 tournament and the UEFA Nations League but their ultimate dream of World Cup appearances were dashed when England head coach Gareth Southgate announced his final 26-man squad for the tournament.
Abraham had always been considered as the understudy for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane since the retirement of Jamie Vardy but the recent good form of Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson.
Tomori won the Scudetto with AC Milan last season but has not been consistent with his game in Italy.
Bukayo Saka has been a great success for Arsenal this season and his inclusion was not a shock one albeit his injury scare after the 1-1 draw against Southampton last week Sunday.
READ ALSO: Arteta ‘Hopeful’ Saka Will Make England’s World Cup Party
Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze was widely considered by the English media as a wildcard that could bet his first call-up to the team.
Eze was a target of the Nigeria Football Federation whose last President, Amaju Pinnick met on London in March 2017 over the possibility of playing for Nigeria.
Eze was expected to make the Three Lions squad for the Euro 2020 tournament but was denied a place in the squad due to injury.
Leicester City’s James Maddison whose current form had elicited widespread commendation especially from the English media makes the squad.
Conor Coady who this summer was signed up by Everton from Wolverhampton Wanderers made the squad at the expense of Fikayo Tomori and Chris Smalling who have been in great form in the Serie A for AC Milan and AS Roma respectively.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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