Home Based Stars Dominate Eagles’ List In Clash Against Guinea

This is good time for local players who have been clamouring to dorn the colours of Nigeria in the senior national team.

P.M.Sports can report that the bulk of players invited to camp to fight for shirts ahead of the Super Eagles’ African Nations Cup qualifier against Syli Nationals of Guinea next month are home-based stars.

Indications are that the stand in coach of the Eagles, Austin Eguavoen, wants to give players in the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, the chance to prove their mettle against the foreign-based players in the national team, a situation which majority of soccer loving Nigerians have been clamouring for.

Eguavoen yesterday called 30 players to camp for the crucial qualifier out of which 16 of them are home-based. Enyimba of Aba dominated the list with five players: Emmanuel  Anyanwu, Emeka Anyanwu, Valentine Nwabili, Daddy Bazuaye and Otekpa Eneji.

Other home-based stars are: Bassey Akpan, Chibuzor Okonkwo (Bayelsa United), Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves), Ikechukwu ThankGod, John Owoeri (Heartland), John Nnam  Ugwu Uwadiegwu  (Enugu Rangers), Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars), Ayo Saka (Ocean Boys) Moses Bunde (Lobi Stars).

Another surprise inclusion in the team was Valencia’s Sunday Stephen, who once said he would have preferred to play for the Spanish national team but with the invitation, it is now left for him to take a decisive stand, on which country he wants to play for.

The domestic players have been asked to report on 26 September, and will be joined by their Europe-based counterparts a week later on 4 October.

The lists of invited foreign based players are as follows: Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Dele Aiyenugba. Defenders Chidi Odiah,Dele Adeleye, Taye Taiwo and Joseph Yobo. Midfielders John Mikel Obi, Kalu Uche, Dickson Etuhu, Sunday Stephen and Yusuf Ayila. Strikers Obinna Nsofor, Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingie and Michael Eneramo.

—Adebobola  Alawode