keshi names Iheanacho, Alampasu for CHAN

 

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has handed three Golden Eaglets players – Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi and goalkeeper Sunday Alampasu – their first chance to play in the senior team by including them in the squad for the African Nations Championship holding in South Africa next year.

Nigeria, playing in the tournament for the first time after missing out on the first two editions, will face hosts South Africa, Mozambique and Mali in Group A of the tournament.

Enugu Rangers duo of Chigozie Agbim and Sunday Mba top the list, with Shooting Stars’ forward Gbolahan Salami making a return to the team.

There are four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and nine strikers.

Six players on the standby list will have the opportunity to join the team only if a player on the main list gets injured.

The players are expected to begin camping on Monday in Abuja.

The Full List:

Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland); Isah Danladi (Sharks); Sunday Alampasu (Abuja Football College)

Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Ebenezer Odunlami (Sunshine Stars); Benjamin Francis (Heartland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Bright Esieme (Enyimba); Yinka Adedeji (Sharks); Reuben Ogbonnaya (El-Kanemi Warriors); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars); Chibuzor Madu (Enugu Rangers)

Midfielders: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers); Etebo Oghenekaro (Warri Wolves); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Ogonna Osuchukwu (Enugu Rangers); Achiv Douglas (Lobi Stars); Kelechi Iheanacho (Taiye Academy, Owerri); Mohammed Ajia (Bayelsa United); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks)

Forwards: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba ); Barnabas Imenger (Lobi Stars); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers); Ezekiel Mbah (Akwa United); Obiozor Christian (Enugu Rangers); Abubakar Aliyu (Nasarawa United); Gbolahan Salami (3SC); Taiwo Awoniyi (Imperial Academy, Ilorin)

Standby: Happy Okuoka (Heartland); Bello Ikeleji (Insurance); Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland); Izuegbu Abonima (Enugu Rangers); Paul Ikenna (Sunshine Stars); John Austin Igenepo.