Shanghai Greenland Shenhua of China striker, Odion Jude Ighalo was joined by the England-based duo of Alex Iwobi from Arsenal and Semi Ajayi from Rotherham United in throwing open the camp of the Super Eagles in Asaba, Delta State on Monday.
Sports247.ng gathered that Ighalo, Iwobi and Ajayi were the earliest arrivals at the Eagles’ nest, as the invited players began arriving for Friday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations last qualifier with Seychelles.
Friday’s game at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba is a formality, as Nigeria have already qualified Egypt 2019, but Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr called up his full arsenal of players for the dead rubber fixture.
Apart from playing for pride and honour, Rohr says his squad will use Friday’s game to kick start preparations for the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, who they will also play next Tuesday at same venue in a friendly.
Ighalo, Iwobi and Ajayi led the bulk of the invited group of 23 players, ahead of goalkeepers Francis Odinaka Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi, as well as the home-based trio of Ikouwem Udoh Utin, Ndifreke Effiong and Valentine Ozornwafor.
Utin and Effiong got into the list as a result of injuries to Samuel Kalu and Ola Aina respectively, while Ozornwafor was one of two original first time invitees, alongside Denmark-based striker, Paul Onuachu.
