- The Super Eagles coach named Crotone striker Simeon Nkwankwo on the team
- No place for veteran goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama
Nigeria Coach Gernot Rohr has named a provisional 30-man squad ahead of the FIFA 2018 World Cup due in Russia next month.
The big surprise is the inclusion of Italy based uncapped forward Simeon Nwankwo who features for Crotone as well as three local based players.
Kano Pillars’ Junior Lokosa, the leading scorer in the Nigeria Premier League with 18 goals plus goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Dele Ajiboye.
The Super Eagles, one of the five African representatives are set to hold camp from May 22-11, June, 2018, three days before the tournament gets underway.
By then, they will hold warm up games against among others England, Czech Republic and DR Congo on June 2, June 6 and May 28 respectively.
Seven players will be dropped after the England game for the mandatory 23 that will be submitted to feature in Russia.
The Super Eagles are in group D with debutants Iceland, Croatia and Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
It will be the sixth time the Super Eagles will feature at the World’s biggest football tournament after appearances in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014.
Their best performances came in 1994, 1998 and 2014 where they were knocked out at the round of 16.
Nigeria 30-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa), Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United)
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong and Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa, Turkey); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Joel Obi (Torino, Italy), Mikel Agu (Bursaspor, Turkey)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea, England); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England); Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars); Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone, Italy).