Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON qualifier against Libya. The striker’s absence was conspicuous on the 23-man roster released by the NFF technical director Austin Eguavoen ahead of the important fixtures.
Orlando Pirates’ Olisa Ndah is another important absence for the Eagles in this round of international fixtures. With both players’ absence, the Nigerian national team will be headlined by in-form stars, Ademola Lookman and and Victor Boniface.
Osimhen picked up a muscle injury on September 28 during Galatasaray’s league fixture against Kasimpasa and is expected to be out of action for some weeks. The reigning African Footballer of the Year and Ndah featured prominently in the Super Eagles’ last international campaign last month where the team gathered four points in the AFCON qualifiers.
The absences notwithstanding, Eguavoen has assembled a formidable squad with players from across Europe’s top leagues and the MLS. The Super Eagles will face Libya at Uyo on October 11 and subsequently at Benghazi four days later for the second leg of the tie. Below is the Super Eagles full squad:
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali – (Chippa United, South Africa)
Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)
Defenders:
William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia)
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey)
Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)
Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Benjamin Tanimu (Crawley Town, England)
Midfielders:
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA)
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy)
Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany)
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards:
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England)
