Ahead of the 2018 World Cup friendly matches with Poland and Serbia we present the scorecards of the Super Eagles players invited by Gernot Rohr for the games.
GOALKEEPERS:
Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain): Francis Uzoho was a surprise inclusion in the Super Eagles squad for the friendly against Argentina last November but he took his chance with a solid outing against the global heavyweights. The 19-year-old has been in decent for Deportivo Fabril (Deportivo’s B team) in the Spanish third tier.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 16
Goals conceded: 11
Clean sheets: 10
Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC): Ikechukwu Ezenwa grabbed his chance with both hands when Daniel Akpeyi sustained an injury in training. In his first real opportunity with the Super Eagles, Ezenwa kept a clean sheet against Cameroon in Uyo. Many expect the place No.1 spot to be a straight fight between him and Uzoho who is currently been monitored by Enrico Pionetti, Gernot Rohr’s goalkeeper trainer.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: Nil
Goals conceded: Nil
Clean sheets: Nil
Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa): Unarguably, Nigeria’s most experienced goalkeeper in the squad is Daniel Akpeyi but a poor outing against South Africa last year has seen him drop down in the pecking order. He needs to regain the trust of the coaching crew if he is to reclaim his place as Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Francis Uzoho are reportedly ahead of him.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 18
Goals conceded: 12
Clean sheets: 8
DEFENDERS:
Abdullahi Shehu (Anthorsis Famagusta/Bursaspor FC, Turkey): Shehu has been decent at right-back for Nigeria and made the position his but he will face a stiff challenge from Tyronne Ebuehi who has been in top form as well for Ado Den Haag.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 25
Assists: 2
Goals scored: 1
Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands): Fast-rising right-back, Tyronne Ebuehi showed many Nigerians what they had been missing when he dazzled on his Super Eagles debut against Argentina in their 4-2 win over Argentina.
He was also solid for Ado Den Haag in the recent 1-1 draw against Ajax Amsterdam where he had to stop the highly-rated Justin Kluivert.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 26
Assists: 2
Goals scored: Nil
Ola Aina (Hull City, England): Since making his debut against Zambia, Aina has grown in confidence in the team. Aina is Nigeria’s most consistent defender in Europe this season having played the most games for his English Championship side Hull City.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 35
Assists: 2
Goals scored: 1
Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium): Echiejile is the Super Eagles’ most experienced and oldest defender. He struggled for game time at Turkish side Sivasspor before he moved to Cercle Brugge KSV in the Belgian second division where he has featured in three of their last five games. Echiejile has Ola Aina and Brian Idowu to battle with for the left-back role.
2017/18 stats:
Total games played: 12
Assists: 1
Goals scored: Nil.
Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia): Brian Idowu capped his impressive debut performance for the Super Eagles in their 4-2 win over Argentina in a friendly in November, 2017 with a brilliant goal. More good outings against Poland and Serbia could boost his chances of making the final cut for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
2017/18 stats:
Total games played: 21
Assist: Nil
Goals scored: 1
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France): Chidozie Awaziem struggled in his first game for Super Eagles but redeemed himself against Argentina where he played on the right side of a 3-5-2 formation in his second game. The Super Eagles won the game 4-2. The 21-year-old can play in any position in defence which is an asset for the team.
2017/18 stats:
Total games played: 19
Assist: Nil
Goals scored: 1
William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey): Another sure bet for the World Cup in Russia is William Troost-Ekong. The centre-back and Wilfred Ndidi are the two players who featured in all of Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Ekong ‘s partnership with Leon Balogun which has been dubbed the ‘oyinbo wall’ has flourished well under Gernot Rohr.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 26
Assists: Nil
Goals scored: 2
Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany): Leon Balogun is not having the best of seasons in the German Bundesliga with FSV Mainz, but his quality has not been in doubt. Injuries and suspensions have restricted his playing time at club level to just 12 appearances.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 12
Assist: Nil
Goals scored: Nil
Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey): Kenneth Omeruo has regained the trust of the Super Eagles handlers with his consistent play for his Turkish club Kasimpasa but it remains to be seen if he can win a place in the starting line-up where William Troost Ekong and Leon Balogun are first choice.
2017/18 stat:
Total games played: 20
Assist: Nil
Goals scored: 1
Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria): The towering Ear earned his debut invitation to the Super Eagles on the back of his performance at the African Nations Championship where he was named in the team of the tournament. His performance for the Home Eagles also earned him a deal with Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Plovdiv. In his third game at the club he was named in the team of the week.
2017/18 stat
Total games played: 3
Assists: Nil
Goals scored: Nil
MIDFIELDERS
Mikel Obi (Tianjin Teda, China): Mikel, the captain of the Super Eagles, is an influential figure under Gernot Rohr. With Mikel’s vast experience in the game, the 30-year-old will be looked upon for inspiration when the going gets tough.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 1
Assist: Nil
Goals scored: None
Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey): Onazi makes a return to the team after missing the last two games against Algeria and Argentina. Onazi’s biggest asset of anticipating danger during match situations has earned him a regular place in the team’s midfield.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 17
Assists: 2
Goals scored: 2
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England): Wilfred Ndidi is one of the most consistent players for club and country in the last one year. Ndidi is the Super Eagles reliable anchor in midfield and he is expected to replicate that same form when Nigeria take on Poland and Serbia.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 33
Assists: 4
Goals scored: 1
Oghenekaro Etebo (Feriense/Las Palmas, Spain): Etebo has got tongues wagging with his brilliant performance for struggling Las Palmas in the Spanish LaLiga Santander. The midfielder continued from where he left off with Portuguese side Feriense where he was their most influential player, scoring four goals.
2017/18 stat
Total games played: 26
Assists: 2
Goals scored: 4
John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel): The 29-year-old central midfielder can play various roles and he is probably very effective in terms of joining up with the team in attacks. He was a great squad player during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and has stepped up well each time he was called in to shore up the middle.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 29
Assists: None
Goals scored: 2
Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium): Uche Agbo has been constantly called up by Gernot Rohr to the senior national team for over a year now but has not been handed a chance to feature. He has been a top performer for his Belgian club Standard Liege but that seems not to have swayed Rohr in any way. The games against Poland and Serbia could be his chance to prove he is not just training material in the national team.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 31
Assists: 3
Goals scored: 1
Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy): The Torino midfielder makes a return back to the Super Eagles after two years out due to persistent injuries. In a midfield department where the Super Eagles are spoilt for choice, the 27- year-old must offer more than what the likes of John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi, Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi and Oghenekaro Etebo can to break into the main team.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 21
Assists: 2
Goals scored: 5
FORWARDS
Ahmed Musa (Leicester City/CSKA Moscow, Russia): After failing to get a game for Leicester City in the first half of the season, Ahmed Musa is back in reckoning playing regularly for CSKA Moscow whom he joined on a six-month loan deal. A consistent run of games coupled with goals could earn him another World Cup appearance in Russia.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 10
Assists: 3
Goals scored: 2
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England: Iheanacho is Nigeria’s most prolific player in the past one year, scoring four goals in seven games for the Super Eagles. His performance in Nigeria’s 4-2 wins over Argentina shows how dynamic the 21-year-old is and how well he has evolved.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 22
Assists: 2
Goals scored: 6
Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium): Simon made a return from a knee ligament injury that kept him out of action for two months last Sunday in Gent’s 3-2 loss to KV Oostende. Simon, a tricky winger, was also instrumental in Nigeria 2018 World Cup qualification. He provides width and pace on the flanks for the team.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 23
Assist: 2
Goals scored: 5
Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England): One of the biggest players in the team is Victor Moses. The Chelsea star is also a sure bet for the World Cup barring any serious injury.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 27
Assists: 2
Goals scored: 3
Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China): Expected to be Nigeria’s first choice striker to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but Odion Ighalo needs to get to be consistent for his team Changchun Yatai this new season in the Chinese Super League to keep his place. He scored 15 goals in 27 league games for his club to emerge as the eight leading scorer in the CSL last season.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 1
Assists: None
Goals scored: Nil
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England): Iwobi has been decent for Arsenal this season despite being on a two-month goal drought. The 21-year-old has managed to feature for Arsenal this season despite the big signing made by Arsene Wenger during the transfer windows.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 29
Assists: 5
Goals scored: 2
Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt): Junior Ajayi’s reputation has continued to soar in the Egyptian League with reigning champions Al Ahly. Currently in his second season with the club, Ajayi caught the eye of the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr after staring for the Egyptian giants in the CAF Champions League and Egyptian League. He also made the Confederation of African Football’s best XI at the Aiteo CAF Awards in January.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 26
Assists: 9
Goals scored: 8
Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United): Okechukwu Gabriel is one of the surprise inclusions in the squad by Gernot Rohr. Gabriel starred for the Home Eagles at the West African Football Union championship in Ghana and the African Nations Championship in Morocco where he scored twice in both tournaments. The Akwa United striker must prove his class among the established stars to be considered for the final squad for the Mundial.
2017/18 stats
Total games played: 3
Assists: 2
Goals scored: Nil.
