TheCable

Coach Salisu Yusuf has invited Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Stephen Odey and 18 other players for Sunday’s African Nations Championship qualifying match against Benin Republic.

The squad will fly from Kano to Lagos on Friday and then travel to Cotonou by road on the same day.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal to take charge of proceedings at the Stade de l’Amitie on Sunday.

He will be assisted by Mokrane Gourari, Mohammed Serradj and Said Aquina.

After Nigeria failed to reach the finals of the first two editions of the competition exclusively reserved for footballers plying their trade in their countries’ domestic Leagues, the Super Eagles won the bronze medals at the third edition in 2014.

They, however, could not make the knockout stage at the fourth edition in Rwanda last year.

The return leg will hold at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano on Saturday, August 19 and the winner will qualify for the 5th African Nations Championship scheduled for Kenya in 2018.

The full squad

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC); Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United)

Defenders: Orji Kalu (Rangers International); Stephen Eze (FC IfeanyiUbah); Ariwachukwu Emmanuel (Akwa United); Chima Akas (Enyimba FC); Nasiru Sani (Katsina United); Osas Okoro (Rangers International)

Midfielders: Hafiz Aremu (Akwa United); Raphael Ayagwa (Lobi Stars); Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Samuel Mathias (El-Kanemi Warriors); Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United)

Forwards: Sikiru Olatubosun (MFM FC); Thomas Zenke (Nasarawa United); Stephen Odey (MFM FC); Kingsley Eduwo (Lobi Stars); Ifeanyi George (Rangers International)