A23-man list with 5 on standby for Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Cameroon was released earlier today and the only major talking point in there was Gernot Rohr’s sticking to his winning team.
The popular wise saying, ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it’ is a perfect one for the latest news coming from the Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.
The German tactician has opted to stick with the same squad that overpowered Cameroon in the double cracker earlier this month in Uyo and Yaounde respectively, with the Super Eagles taking 4 out of the possible 6points.
Alexander Iwobi’s return to the squad is also a good one for the Gernot Rohr’s side as his presence in the team gives them more options going wide in attack.
Meanwhile, the inclusion of Plateau United’s goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye is a further boost to the team in terms of depth in the goalkeeping department.
While dropping Dele Alampasu could be easily attributed to the return of the preferred Chippa United goaltender, Dan Akpeyi who has returned to full fitness after a spell on the sidelines.
The biggest pressure going into the October 7 game now is majorly on the Chipolopolo of Zambia, even as their Coach Wedson Nyirenda is under immense pressure. As plans are already on the way to replace him with a former player, Christopher Katongo if he fails to deliver on the World Cup place in Russia.
Other additions are Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Afeez Aremu, who were part of the Super Eagles B that finished as runners-up at the just –concluded WAFU Cup of Nations in Ghana, are in the stand-by section but will join the team’s training sessions in Uyo.
Nigeria welcome Zambia on Saturday, 7th October at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria.
Babafemi Raji
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