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MIKEL OBI EXCUSED FROM LIBYAN DUELS

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

 

Super Eagles’ skipper, Mikel Obi, is conspicuously missing in the 24-man list released on Monday by the team’s Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr for this month’s back-to-back encounters with Libya in the Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifiers.

Team’s media officer, Toyin Ibitoye explained that the skipper was excused by the coach to enable him recover fully from his injury.

“Rohr does not want to overload him with international engagement at the moment, but hopefully, Mikel will be back for the MatchDay 5 with South Africa next month”.

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Mikel Obi last played for Nigeria in the June 26 World Cup match with Argentina in Saint Petersburg. He played the match with a green crepe bandage on his left wrist following injury he sustained in the previous match with Iceland.

Mikel Obi played Nigeria’s match with Argentina with an injured left wrist.

In the list released through the media department of the NFF, Moses Simon is returning to the team after a long spell with injury sustained just before the release of the final World Cup squad in May.

But the lanky Simeon Nwankwo, a late entrant into the squad last May is omitted this time despite being in Seychelles last month and also scoring in the exhibition match in Liberia.

Former junior international Isaac Success is called up along with Ahmed Musa and 23 other players.

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Arsenal FC of England forward Alex Iwobi is on the list alongside Italy –based duo of William Ekong and Olaoluwa Aina. All three missed the 3-0 win over Seychelles in Mahe last month due to injury.

 

Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only home –based professional. China –based forward Odion Ighalo and Russia –based defender Bryan Idowu are also among the pack that has been called to hunt for the six maximum points against Group E leaders Libya in the Matchday 3 and 4 games.

Nigeria host the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, 13th October with the return scheduled for the 18,000 –capacity Stade Taïeb Mhiri in the city of Sfax, Tunisia on Tuesday, 16th October.

The 2015 U-17 World Cup –winning captain,  Kelechi Nwakali is also overlooked. All invited players are to report in the Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday, 8th October 2018.

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THE FULL LIST

 

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Elche FC, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

 

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Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany)

 

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

 

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England)

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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