Nwakali, Osimhen Awoniyi, Ighalo Named In Nigeria’s AFCON Squad

2 years ago
1 min read

 

Etebo, Kalu, Onuachu, Ebuehi, Bonke Omitted

 

Nigeria on Saturday named a 28-man squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with SD Huesca attacking midfielder Kelechi Nwakali finally getting his much expected chance in the senior national team.

 

The former Golden Eaglets star who captained the U-17 national team to the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup triumph is expected to provide creativity to a team finding it difficult to break down opposing defences.

 

The number of youth internationals who found themselves in the AFCON team wascalso swelled by the addition of Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

 

However missing out on the squad is Watford FC of England midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo who was out injured and is only making a gradual return to fitness with light training sessions.

 

Bordeaux of France winger Samuel Kalu, Genk’s Paul Onuachu, Innocent Binke and Venezia of Italy right back Tyrone Ebuehi were also not included  due to injuries in the list released by the Nigeria Football Federation on Christmas day, December 25.

 

Striker Victor Osimhen is included in the team despite being on the mend from the serious facial injury he sustained in a Serie A game between Napoli and Inter Milan in November.

 

Also on the team after his return to international football caused a furore during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers is Saudi Arabia based experienced campaigner Odion Ighalo.

 

The former Manchester United forward could lead the line with Osimhen and new boy on the block Sadiq Umar making their impacts from the substitutes’ bench in their Group D matches.

 

Aside the few surprise additions and omissions ostensibly due to fitness issues, most of the players in the team were expected to make the cut.

 

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.

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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