Royal Excel Mouscron of Belgium attacker, Taiwo Awoniyi will lead a host of several other foreign-based players in Nigeria’s squad for next Wednesday’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifier away to Libya.
Also confirmed for the game in Tunisia are Orji Okonkwo from USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS), Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal of Spain, Azubuike Okechukwu from Rizerspor, Turkey, Kelechi Nwakali from FC Porto, Portugal, and Kingsley Michael, who is currently on loan from top-flight Italian side, Bologna to lower division Perugia in the Italian Serie C.
With several home-based players ending up with age irregularities and giving Olympic Eagles’ coach, Imama Amapakabo problems in building a stable squad, the ex-youth international goalkeeper has turned focus fully on Europe for a solution, ahead of next week’s first leg match.
Top of the lot is Awoniyi, who is on loan from Liverpool of England, and was a member of the Golden Eaglets’ winning team at UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, then played in the 2015 Africa U23 Cup of Nations, but sports247.ng learnt he could be on his way to the 2019 U-23 AFCON.
The 21-year-old striker, who has also played on loan at FSV Frankfurt of Germany, NEC Nijmegen of Holland and KAA Gent of Belgium, was also in Coach Samson Yebowei Siasia’s provisional list for the 2016 Olympics but did not make the final squad, despite helping the team qualify.
