17 Super Eagles players arrive camp for crucial FIFA 2022 World Cup Africa Qualifier

17 players of the Super Eagles have now arrived camp for the crucial FIFA World Cup Africa Qualifier for the Qatar tournament between Nigeria and Ghana.

World football governing body, FIFA had last month effected a minor reshuffling of dates for the forthcoming 2022 Qatar World Cup play-off matches between Ghana and Nigeria.

The fixture which was originally scheduled for Thursday, March 24 and Sunday, March 27, has been moved to Friday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

While the first leg will take place at the Cape Coast Stadium in Ghana, the reverse fixture is to be hosted at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

The winner of both ties will clinch one of the five tickets to the global football tournament from November 21 to December 18, 2022 in Qatar.

As at Tuesday morning,midfielders; Jo Aribo, Calvin Bassey, Innocent Bonke, an striker Emmanuel Dennis had arrived, swelling the camp to 17 players.

Others in camp already are: William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Frank Onyeka, Odion Ighalo, Daniel Akpeyi, Ahmed Musa, Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Shehu Abdullahi, Francis Uzoho, and Moses Simon.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare had, recently confirmed that the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta will host the Nigeria leg of the football encounter between the Super Eagles and the Black Stars of Ghana in March, this year.

Dare said the MKO Stadium has finally obtained the CAF certification for international matches.

“I’d like to inform you that we have just received @CAF_Online certification of [Moshood Abiola National Stadium] for Int’l matches, which means the World Cup qualifiers next month will be played here.” — @SundayDareSD  to @AlikoDangote  (sponsored revamp of pitch + scoreboards],” the minister tweeted.

The match is one of two legs to be played for one of the five tickets for grabs in Africa for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, this November.

However, the most anticipated of the fixtures will be the Senegal versus Egypt encounter to be played in Dakar and Cairo.

The Pharaohs of Egypt and captain Mohammed Salah are plotting a revenge mission on the Teranga Lions of Senegal following a bitter loss of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in Cameroon during the final match decided via penalty shootouts with the West Africans winning 4-2 to lift the trophy for the first time in their history after three attempts.

Earlier in the month, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) unveiled a provisional list of Super Eagles to face the Black Stars of Ghana in this month end’s two-legged Qatar 2022 World Cup Africa qualifiers.

NFF unveiled the squad via its Instagram account which saw the return of Victor Osimhen, Emmanuel Dennis and Ademola Lookman to the squad, as Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Peter Olayinka made way.

The last three players were members of the recently-concluded AFCON tournament in Cameroon, while Lookman was not invited due to citizenship eligibility, Osimhen was out on injury, while Emmanuel Dennis was stopped from participation by his club, Watford FC of England.

The full team list includes:

Goalkeeper: Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi and Shehu Abdullahi.

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, Akinkunmi Amoo.

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Iheanacho, Emmanuel Dennis and Ademola Lookman.

While the likes of Chidozie Awaziem, Jamilu Collins, Chidera Ejuke, Taiwo Awoniyi, Paul Onuachu, Peter Olayinka and Ogenyi Onazi were placed on standby.

However, with the injury sustained by reliable midfielder, Ndidi Wilfred, another player originally not on the stand by list, Innocent Bonke has been drafted into the squad.

Meanwhile, Ghana have announced a 27-man list of player to face the Super Eagles, this Friday in Cape Coast, as well as, the reverse fixture in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Black Stars of Ghana finally named a 27-man squad for 2022 World Cup playoffs against the Super Eagles, Tuesday.

Ghana have been coy on the squad list ahead of the Nigeria encounter.

Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew returns to the side and has been included despite speculations he has contracted Coronavirus, while Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey will lead the Black Stars in the absence of suspended Andre Ayew.

Ghana called up three uncapped players – Denis Odoi, Elisha Owusu and Dennis Korsah, who plays for Hearts of Oak in the Ghana Premier League.