Super Eagles’ First Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf has released a list of 30 players, including Captain Ahmed Musa and forward Moses Simon, ahead of the prestigious international friendly matches against the ‘A’ Men National Teams of Mexico and Ecuador in the United States of America. The three –time African champions will clash with CONCACAF powerhouse Mexico at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, State of Texas on Saturday, 28th May, before flying to New Jersey to tackle Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday, 2nd June. Yusuf, who is also Head Coach of the CHAN and the U23 teams, has included eight home–based professional players, including goalkeepers Adewale Adeyinka and Ojo Olorunleke, defender Ibrahim Buhari, and forwards Victor Mbaoma and Ishaq Rafiu. Only 25 players will make the final list for the tour, which is preparatory to next month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone in Abuja (9th June) and São Tomé & Príncipe in Marrakech, Morocco (13th June).
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Isa Ali (Remo Stars); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau United)
Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United); Babatunde Afeez Nosiru (Kwara United); Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey); Samson Tijani (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Victor Mbaoma (Enyimba FC); Ishaq Rafiu (Rivers United)
Anugweje to deliver Stephen Keshi memorial lecture
Renowned academic, Prof Ken Anugweje of the University of Portharcourt, has been named the guest lecturer of a memorial lecture in honor of late former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi. The lecture series in its 5th edition holds June 6 in Benin. The theme of this year’s lecture is…“Transformation of Nigerian Football Governance structure for sustainable Growth and Development.” The lecture is to be delivered by a former Footballer and lecturer Professor Ken Anugweje, the head of Medical and Anti-doping Commission of AFN.
The theme is not only timely but deliberate to profer informed solutions to the inherent weaknesses in our football governing Structures. Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo, Editor – in Chief Moment Africa Media, former Chairman editorial board of Vanguard newspaper, and Prince Harrison Jalla Chairman Board of Trustees of PFAN, will be presenting two other papers titled “A peep into the Statute of Football Governance in Nigeria: Issues, challenges and solutions ” and “The Role of Footballers in shaping the administration of Football in Nigeria.”
All the topics shall be dissected by a group of carefully selected Panelists of outstanding Football technocrats which includes the former Chairman of the NPFL Chief Rumson Victor Baribote, the CEO of LMC Prince Davidson Owumi, CAF’s Head of Safety and Security Dr Christian Emeruwa, distinguished and well respected Football Agent Aminu Yusuf, Nigerian Ex international, AGS of PFAN Edema Fuludu, the last but not the least ex Footballer And FIFA players agent Austin Akpehe. The Chairman of the Board of trustees of the Stephen keshi Football and Vocational Training Center SKFVTC , Former President of PAGASSAN, Dr Brown Ogbeifun, shall moderate the lecture. Other personalities which includes the Deputy Governor of Edo State Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, the Chairman Edo State Sports Commission Yusuf Ali, Chairman Delta State Sports Commission Tonobok Okowa, Chairman Edo State FA, Comrade Roland Abu, Bishop Samson Okelezoh, GO Ministry of Perfection and Patron of SKFVTC, HRH Edun Akenzuwa, the Enogie of Obazuwa Kingdom and Grand Patron of SKFVTC, , HRH Tony Ogiegor the Enogie of Egor Kingdom, Mr Sylvester Keshi, Head of Keshi family, including all the Players and Coaches of the Participating teams in the 5th edition of the Stephen keshi National Under 17 football Tournament are expected to be part of the lecture.
