With less than 48 hours
before Eagles gaffer
Stephen Keshi unveils
his 23 - man roster for
the African Cup of
Nations,
allnigeriasoccer.com
picks the players likely
to be on the plane to
South Africa.
Goalkeepers
Vincent Enyeama
Age:30
Caps:69
Chances of being on the
plane: 10/10 - The
experienced Maccabi Tel
Aviv custodian is a sure
banker for the trip to
South Africa. Has kept
four clean-sheets in the
current campaign.
Despite question marks
regarding his
performances in the
recent matches played
by the Eagles, he is
expected to start the
tournament in goal.
Austin Ejide
Age:28
Caps:23
Chances of being on the
plane: 10 - The Press
has been kind to Ejide
with their recent
remarks, especially with
his performance against
Venezuela and the
penalty save against
Hapoel Ramat Gan in a
cup game. But we can
reveal Ejide's form has
been patchy since the
season started in Israel.
Has conceded 12 goals
in his last 7 matches in
the championship.
Definitely on the plane
to South Africa, where
he is expected to act as
back up to Vincent
Enyeama.
Chigozie Agbim
Age: 28
Caps: 1
Chances of being on the
plane: 8- Showed
composure and
leadership qualities in
the last friendly against
the Catalonian.
selection. Will make the
23 - man squad to
South Africa.
Daniel Akpeyi
Age: 26
Caps: Nil
Chances of being on the
plane: 3 - Unfortunately
fails to make the squad
to South Africa due to
his inexperience at
international level. Coach
Stephen Keshi never
gave him a chance to
prove his credentials.
And the Cape Verde
friendly is coming too
late.
Defenders
Joseph Yobo
Age: 32
Caps: 89
Chances of being on the
plane: 10: There are
doubts surrounding his
full fitness.
Nonetheless, the Eagles
skipper should be the
first name on the list
when defenders are
penciled down by the
selectors. This should
be his last appearance
for Nigeria in a major
tournament. Would be a
perfect icing on the
cake if the Eagles lift
the trophy on February
10.
Efe Ambrose
Age: 24
Caps: 16
Chances of being on the
plane: 10: Ambrose has
grown by leaps and
bounds since his move
to Scotland powerhouse
Glasgow Celtic last
summer. Versatile
defender who could
start the Eagles first
game against Burkina
Faso on January 21 at
right back.
Juwon Oshaniwa
Age: 22
Caps: 8
Chances of being on the
plane: 5: May be an
unpopular decision, but
the right one! Has not
impressed in the few
games he's started in a
green and white jersey.
He's very likely to get
chopped off by Keshi.
His omission from
recent games played by
Nigeria is a warning
signal that he was
called to Faro as a
training material.
Godfrey Oboabona
Age: 22
Caps: 9
Chances of being on the
plane: 8: Modern day
defender who can cover
several roles at the
back. Should be on the
plane to South Africa
where he will act as
understudy to Joseph
Yobo in the tournament.
Azubuike Egwuekwe
Age: 23
Caps: 10
Chances of being on the
plane: 10 - Versatile
player that can play at
left back and in
defensive midfield. His
performances for the
Eagles have been
flawless. Expected to
partner Yobo in central
defense.
Elderson Echiejile
Age: 24
Caps: 19
Chances of being on the
plane: 10: The Sporting
Braga fullback is
expected to be one of
the important players
for Nigeria in this
tournament having had
the experience of
playing at the 2010
World Cup and Afcon.
Solomon Kwambe
Age: 19
Caps: 2
Chances of being on the
plane: 3: Yet to play a
competitive match for
the Super Eagles,
inexperience has cost
him a place in the squad.
On top of that, he is not
versatile enough to be
considered for selection.
Ambrose, Yobo,
Oboabona, Ogude and
Omeruo can also play at
right full back.
Kenneth Omeruo
Age: 19
Caps: Nil
Chances of being on the
plane: 8 - One of the
rising stars of Nigeria
football. Expected to be
a mainstay in the Super
Eagles for more than 10
years as he is still a
teenager. Tipped to be
named as Keshi's 'Theo
Walcott selection'.
Benjamin Francis
Age: 18
Caps: 1
Chances of being on the
plane: 7 - The
youngster is expected
to get Keshi’s nod
ahead of Juwon
Oshaniwa. Showed
flashes of brilliance
against Catalonia early
this month.
Papa Idris
Age: 23
Caps: 4
Chances of being on the
plane: 3 – The Nations
Cup may have come too
quick for the player who
is just returning from
injury. Not going to
South Africa.
Midfielders
Mikel Obi
Age: 25
Caps: 38
Chances of being on the
plane: 10 – Whether
fully fit or not, Mikel will
go to the Nations Cup
even with one leg. With
the perceived lack of
experience in midfield,
the Chelsea ace should
up his game and show
why he’s a world class
player in South Africa.
Nosa Igiebor
Age: 22
Caps: 5
Chances of being on the
plane: 10 - Another sure
banker for the trip. This
will make up for the
disappointment of
missing the African
Under 23 championship
two winters ago.
Igiebor desperately
wanted to play in
Morocco and embarked
on a media campaign in
the Israeli media…..but
this story is for another
day. The Real Betis
midfielder is a
committed player,
ready to work his socks
off for the national
team cause.
Gabriel Reuben
Age: 22
Caps: 9
Chances of being on the
plane: 5 – The standout
player in the domestic
championship. Has
fitness concerns and
won’t be going to South
Africa!
Eddy Onazi
Age: 20
Caps: 2
Chances of being on the
plane: 8– On the plane.
A modern day
midfielder, can play
several roles in midfield
– central, defensive,
right and attacking
midfield. That puts him
ahead of his
competitors battling for
places in midfield.
Expected to be used as
an impact substitute by
Keshi in South Africa.
Raheem Lawal
Age:22
Caps: 3
Chances of being on the
plane: 5: - Lawal is the
weakest link in the
Eagles midfield. Making
the 32 – man roster is
already a plus to his CV.
Not going to South
Africa.
Obiora Nwankwo
Age: 21
Caps: 6
Chances of being on the
plane: 8: You don’t play
in a competition as
glamorous as the
Champions League for
Inter Milan by accident.
In this relative
inexperienced squad,
you can bet Obiora
won’t suffer stage
fright.On the plane.
Fegor Ogude
Age: 25
Caps: 8
Chances of being on the
plane: 9 - His versatility
puts him ahead of
Raheem Lawal in Keshi’s
pecking order of central
midfielders. In addition,
can play as makeshift
right back. Very
important in a
tournament of this
magnitude where
overzealous officials
can brandish red cards.
Sunday Mba
Age: 24
Caps: 4
Chances of being on the
plane: 7 – Has an
impressive ratio of
goals for the National
Team. Should be on the
plane to South Africa.
Rabiu Ibrahim
Age: 21
Caps: Nil
Chances of being on the
plane: 9 – Once hailed as
the New Jay Jay
Okocha. While he has
the technical and
dribbling abilities of the
former Bolton star, the
wide range of passing
which Okocha
possesses is absent in
Rabiu’s game. But he
will go to South Africa,
and don’t ask me how
he made it.
Henry Uche
Age: 22
Caps: 7
Chances of being on the
plane: 3 – Uche won’t
be going to South
Africa. So many players
ahead of him in the
pecking order in his
favored position.
Forwards
Ahmed Musa
Age: 20
Caps: 17
Chances of being on the
plane: 10 – A certainty
on the plane. Will be one
of the stars of the
tournament.
Emmanuel Emenike
Age : 25
Caps: 9
Chances of being on the
plane: 9 – These days
the Nigerian attack is
tailored after the
English system, where
there is the presence of
a physical striker to
wear down the
defense. The Spartak
Moscow front man has
excellent physical
presence to trouble
African opposition.
Brown Ideye
Age: 24
Caps: 5
Chances of being on the
plane: 7 – Ideye has
been more prolific for
club than country.
Including the Under 21
squad, has scored only
once in his last 10
games for the national
teams. Will go to South
Africa based on his club
form and is seen as a
big game player.
Uche Kalu
Age: 26
Caps: 3
Chances of being on the
plane: 1 – Not fully fit
and would be a major
risk if he’s taken to
South Africa. Rizespor
want him back in
Turkey for proper
medical attention.
Victor Moses
Age: 22
Caps: 6
Chances of being on the
plane: 10 – If he does
not make the trip to
South Africa, then the
Eagles have no business
travelling to South
Africa for the
competition.
Bright Dike
Age: 25
Caps: 1
Chances of being on the
plane: 8 – The last 12
months have been
magical for the Portland
Timber striker.
Sometime last year,
Bright was playing in
United States’ third tier.
All doubts about his
ability were put to rest
following a fine
performance against
Catalonia. This is a
story for Nollywood.
Ejike Uzoenyi
Age: 24
Caps:7
Chances of being on the
plane: 5– Another
interesting decision by
the coaches. May be a
luxury taking two left
wingers for the
competition. Thus
Chrisantus misses the
cut.
Ikechukwu Uche
Age: 29
Caps: 40
Chances of being on the
plane: 10– Nigeria’s
most potent threat in
attack statistically. Has
netted 9 goals in his
last 10 appearances for
the Super Eagles. Must
have an eye on the
African Cup of Nations
golden boot. On the
plane.
Allnigeriasoccer 23
Man Super Eagles
Squad to South Africa
Goalkeepers: Vincent
Enyeama (MaccabiTel
Aviv, Israel), Austin
Ejide (Hapoel Be’er
Sheva, Israel), Chigozie
Agbim (Warri Wolves)
Defenders: Joseph
Yobo (Fenerbahçe), Efe
Ambrose (Glasgow
Celtic), Godfrey
Oboabona(Sunshine
Stars), Elderson Echiejile
(Sporting Braga,
Portugal) Benjamin
Francis (Heartland),
Azubuike Egwuekwe
(Warri Wolves) Kenneth
Omeruo (Ado Den Haag,
Netherlands)
Midfielders: John Obi
Mikel (Chelsea), Nosa
Igiebor (Real Betis,
Spain), Eddy Onazi
(Lazio), Obiora
Nwankwo (Padova,
Italy), Fegor Ogude
(Valerenga, Norway)
Rabiu Ibrahim
(Kilmarnock) Sunday
Mba (Warri Wolves)
Attackers: Ahmed
Musa (CSKA Moscow,
Russia), Emmanuel
Emenike (Spartak
Moscow, Russia), Brown
Ideye (Dynamo Kiev,
Ukraine), Victor Moses
(Chelsea) Bright Dike
(Portland Timber, USA)
Ike Uche (Villarreal,
Spain)