Nigeria have included Simeon Nwankwo in their final squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Crotone striker, who only made his international debut against DR Congo last Monday, has earned a spot in Gernot Rohr’s 23-man group. READ | Mohamed Salah’s absence playing on Egypt’s mind ahead of FIFA World Cup 2018, says coach Established stars including Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, John Obi Mikel and Joel Obi have all been included, alongside Leicester City duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho. Brighton and Hove Albion’s Leon Balogun, Porto’s Chidozie Awaziem and forward Ahmed Musa, who spent the end of the 2017-18 season on loan from Leicester at CSKA Moscow, are also in the squad. Nigeria, who were beaten 2-1 by England in a friendly match at Wembley on Friday, face Czech Republic on Wednesday, before beginning their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 16. Nigeria’s final 23-man World Cup squad: Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Ifeanyi Ubah), Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna); Shehu Abdullahi (Bursaspor), Chidozie Awaziem (Porto), Leon Balogun (Brighton and Hove Albion), Tyronne Ebuehi (Benfica), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge), William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas), John Obi Mikel (Tianjin Teda), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Joel Obi (Torino), John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone).<doc-sep>Have NFF leaked Super Eagles’ final World Cup squad? There is a strong clue on who will make the World Cup squad after Gernot Rohr picked 24 players for the friendly versus England With rumours swirling that Gernot Rohr has picked his final squad for the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia, the Nigeria Football Federation may well have confirmed the unlucky ones. It was whispered that the Super Eagles final squad had been compiled after the 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday with Stephen Eze getting axed. Eze was quick to make this clear, tweeting: “Sadly, my journey to #WorldCup ends here. I am disappointed to not make the final squad, but I want to thank our coach & management for the opportunity! I wish my team the best & hope to join in celebrations when they bring the trophy home! “ Article continues below Sadly, my journey to #WorldCup ends here. I am disappointed to not make the final squad, but I want to thank our coach & management for the opportunity! I wish my team the best & hope to join in celebrations when they bring the trophy home! GO #NIGERIA 🇳🇬⚽️! #DefendLikeEze pic.twitter.com/CQOJ9tsM8V — StephenEzeOfficial (@DefendLikeEze) May 30, 2018 However, the NFF tweeted names of players who will feature in Saturday’s international friendly with Eze, Junior Lokosa, Uche Agbo and Dele Ajiboye not making the cut. Kenneth Omeruo, Bryan Idowu, Wilfred Ndidi, Mikel John Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Mikel Agu, Joel Obi, John Ogu, Odion Ighalo, Simeon Nwankwo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong 2/3 — The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) May 30, 2018 Meanwhile, injured Moses Simon will also be with the team to London to examine the extent of his injury. The game billed for Wembley will see Rohr’s side face the Three Lions for the first time since the 2002 Fifa World Cup. And after that encounter, two more players will be dropped Nigeria have been zoned in Group D alongside Argentina, Iceland and Croatia while Gareth Southgate’s men challenge Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G.<doc-sep>The main event will kick off in a couple of weeks but for Nigeria Saturday’s meeting with England is more than a warm-up. For some Super Eagles, at least, the heat is really on. Unlike Gareth Southgate, Nigeria’s manager, Gernot Rohr, has not settled on the squad that he will take to the World Cup, preferring initially to name a 30-man panel before ditching surplus players in instalments as if trying to lend his selection process some of the suspense and agony of a reality TV show. Four players were evicted after Monday’s 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, while a fifth, the Gent winger Moses Simon, was ruled out by a hip injury, although Rohr is giving him as much time as possible to recover. The manager will announce the last cuts to his squad after the England match. There could hardly be a bigger incentive to perform well at Wembley. Rohr is probably not doing this for dramatic effect. Rather his hesitation reflects uncertainty over a couple of roles, particularly at full-back, where the manager has admitted doubts linger. Ola Aina, the 21-year-old Chelsea player who spent last season on loan at Hull, may have marked his own card by making the clumsy tackle that enabled Congo to equalise from a penalty but, on the other hand, his ability to play on either flank may earn him inclusion ahead of either Elderson Echiejile or Brian Idowu, who can function only on the left. Aside from places on the plane, there may still be spots up for grabs in the starting lineup for Nigeria’s first World Cup match, against Croatia on 16 June. Most obviously, and like England, the goalkeeping question seems unresolved. Rohr’s options following Carl Ikeme’s leukaemia diagnosis and the retirement of Vincent Enyeama are not especially compelling. It will be fascinating to see who starts in goal at Wembley. For recent friendlies the manager has put his trust in Francis Uzoho, who is undoubtedly talented but still raw, as should be expected from a 19-year-old whose main club action has been with Deportivo La Coruña’s second team. The other options – Enyimba’s Ikechukwu and Daniel Akpeyi of Chippa United – are more experienced but have previously shown they are not above rashness. Those worries aside, Rohr knows most of the side he will count on in Russia and has good cause to be confident of progressing out of a formidable group that also features Argentina and Iceland, thereby fulfilling the ambition he expressed at his first press conference after being appointment Nigeria manager in August 2016. Nigeria made light work of a tough qualifying group, sweeping above Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia with a style that suddenly had Rohr feeling the need to dampen expectations. “Unfortunately, ambitions are a little excessive here, as Nigeria must reach the semi-finals, at least,” he said shortly after securing qualification. Nigeria swelled expectations further by beating Argentina 4-2 in a friendly in November, although a recent defeat by Serbia offset that a tad. Nonetheless, the victory over Argentina, whom Nigeria will face in their last group game, was an encouraging demonstration of the qualities displayed during qualification. This is a strong, dynamic, united and skilful side featuring a potent mix of youth and experience. The Super Eagles will test England. Premier League fans who do not keep tabs on Nigeria will find them intriguing visitors. Not only will this be a chance to check out Leon Balogun, the centre-back who will play for Brighton next season after signing in May from Mainz and who, under Rohr, has developed such a strong central defensive partnership with William Troost-Ekong that Nigeria fans refer to the pair as the Oyinbo Wall. It will also provide an opportunity to gain a fresh appreciation of Mikel John Obi and Odion Ighalo, players widely dismissed as washed-up after leaving the Premier League for China last year. Neither featured against DR Congo, having just arrived from Asia, but are expected to play at Wembley, where they will hope to show they remain indispensable to their national team. Mikel pulls the strings from an advanced midfield role in a way he seldom did during 11 successful years at Chelsea. One of the players he regularly supplies is Victor Moses, whose storming raids down the right were one of the most thrilling features of Nigeria’s qualifying campaign, during which Moses was the top scorer. Sign up for the Fiver – now with a World Cup edition. Igahlo, meanwhile, remains Nigeria’s first-choice striker. But a valuable alternative has recently emerged: Simy Nwankwo, aged 26, was given his international debut against Congo and continued the form when he scored six goals in eight matches for Crotone in Serie A season. He offers Nigeria a new dimension, as at 6ft 6in he carries an aerial threat and has the strength to serve as an effective fulcrum up front while also smart and nimble. He may be coming to the boil at exactly the right time.<doc-sep>
Ola Aina and Mikel Agu axed as Nigeria announce final World Cup list The Super Eagles handler has named his 23-man squad that will travel to Russia with Alex Iwobi and Chidozie Awaziem making the cut Gernot Rohr has announced his final 23-man Nigeria squad for the 2018 Fifa World Cup, with Ola Aina and Mikel Agu getting kicked out. 18 debutants join John Obi Mikel, Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Victor Moses in the list that was released after the Super Eagles bowed 2-1 to England at Wembley Stadium. Elderson Echiejile will be making his first World Cup appearance after losing his place to Ejike Uzoenyi in Brazil 2014 due to injury. Rohr takes just two specialist centre-forwards to Russia - Changchun Yatai’s Odion Ighalo and Crotone’s Simeon Nwankwo. The attacking line-up is completed by Chelsea’s Victor Moses, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa. Captain Mikel prepares for his second World Cup and will anchor the midfield with support from Ogenyi Onazi, recuperating Wilfred Ndidi, John Ogu, Oghenekaro Etebo and Joel Obi. The German tactician has opted to go with William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Bryan Idowu, Chidozie Awaziem, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile and Tyronne Ebuehi for his defensive options. The players are scheduled to arrive in Austria on Sunday evening on June 4, where they will face the Czech Republic on Wednesday at the Rudolf-Tonn-Stadium. Afterwards, Nigeria head to Russia ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia on June 16 in Kaliningrad. FULL SQUAD GOALKEEPERS: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba) Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United) Francis Uzoho (Deportivo de La Coruna) Article continues below DEFENDERS: William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor) Leon Balogun (Mainz 05) Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa) Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm) Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes) Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor) Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge) Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag) MIDFIELDERS: John Obi Mikel (Tianjin Teda) Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor) John Ogu (Hapoel Beer Sheva) Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas) Joel Obi (Torino) FORWARDS: Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai) Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow) Victor Moses (Chelsea) Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone)