Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi,31, has been once again omitted by Coach Gernot Rohr for the second consecutive time for the national team assignment.
The Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Rohr on Monday called up stand-in team captain Ahmed Musa and 22 other players for preparations ahead of the senior national male football team’s two upcoming matches.
the team have ahead of them next month’s crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg.
They also have a friendly encounter against the Cranes of Uganda at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba three days later.
Rohr kept faith with the group which beat Libya’s Mediterranean Knights over the two legs fixtures earlier this month. Remember the German Coach cited injury as reason why he did not invite the Chinese base Eagles star player.
Despite concern in some quarters since the new eagles list was out on Monday with some elements of surprises, former Super Eagles Skipper and Sport Analyst, Victor Ikpeba has refused to faul Rohr for Omitting Mikel again.
He said, “Mikel is not a must in Eagles”. He made the submission on Super Sport Monday Night Live broadcast stating that, “I understand the coach. Mikel has been a fantastic player for the national team for than a decade. And i understand that the skipper and the coach have a great relationship but we don’t know why he was not invited.
“But, this is great for the team and great for the young set of players that they can do without Mikel and what they can do with even Victor Moses. The team has been brilliant without them and the coach has be en apt with the decision.
Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, has been left out the squad for bagging yellow cards in the away matches against Seychelles and Libya.
Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa are among three goalkeepers invited to camp, while Olaoluwa Aina, William Ekong, Leone Balogun and Kenneth Omeruo are included among eight defenders.
Also, Oghenekaro Etebo and John Ogu are listed among three midfielders, while Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo, Samuel Kalu and Alex Iwobi are among nine forwards.
However, Henry Onyekuru and Junior Lokosa are listed among five players on stand-by. Nigeria lead Group E of the qualification series with nine points.
They will face second-placed South Africa at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Nov. 17 in one of the Match Day 5 fixtures. Victory in the match will automatically send the Eagles to the 2019 AFCON finals in Cameroon.
