GUESS WHO WILL BE AT THE RUSSIA 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP?

World Cup is here again and among the 31 countries that will be on parade in Russia, FIFA is expecting Nigeria to send a preliminary list of 40 players, at least four months before the kick-off of competition. As usual, this task might not be an easy one but it is not what the German Technical Adviser to the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr cannot handle. 

Rohr has listed the football stars that already have automatic tickets to Russia 2018 World Cup and ideal Olive brings to you those who have proved themselves indispensable.

John Mikel Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); the former Chelsea midfielder. He is Nigeria’s best and most important player.

Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England), another football lord that will make Nigeria proud in Russia.

Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany), another good player with automatic ticket.

William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey), Born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father, and Dutch mother, represented the Netherlands at under-19 and under-20 youth levels. He is one of the Eaglets that have impressed Rohr to qualify for automatic ticket.

Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England), the nephew of Eagles football legend and captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, is gifted in the football art and is looked up to by fans as a key figure.

Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey) is one of Rohr’s regular players since he joined the team. It is therefore not a surprise that he will automatically make it to Russia 2018 World Cup.

Ahmed Musa is another star on the automatic list of Rohr.

Others are still undecided and Ideal Olive has decided to take a guess, and listed below are those on our guess board.

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England) The Foxes’ defensive midfielder is one of the stars that Eagles’ supporters look up to during football matches. He has proved himself important in Rohr’s team and may not be left out.

Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England) is one of Super Eagle’s trusted strikers. His transition from the Golden Eaglets’ squad, the Flying Eagles team to FIFA U-20 World Cup with a World Cup finals appearance is a strong point that he will likely make it to Russia 2018.

Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey) is the former Plateau United ace and a member of the bronze-winning Dream Team IV at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. He is one of Rohr’s favorites and will likely make it to Russia 2018.

Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China) offers better goal counts which will likely offer him a chance among the 2018 World Cup team.

A source reported that Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC) and Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United of South Africa); the trio of goalkeepers, no doubt look good to make the squad to Russia.

Ideal Olive also gathered from a trusted source that Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium), Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow) are also likely to be considered in the squad to Russia.

Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy) made his debut for Nigeria on February 9, 2011 in a friendly game with Sierra Leone in Lagos. The midfielder has got the ability to fit into the team for Russia 2018 World Cup.

Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria) has played for NPFL sides Lobi Stars, Sunshine Stars, Ifeanyi Ubah and Kano Pillars before he moved abroad. According to him, “Unfortunately, we lost from Morocco, but I had the opportunity to compete alongside strong and proven players, and I also had a lot of experience. I hope that with my good games for Nigeria I can participate in the World Championship in Russia in June.” His experience can pave way for him.

Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey), the Turkish-based defense ace on the other hand, will likely join the team if he improves on his weaknesses in Eagles’ coming games, our source revealed.

Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium) plays for the Nigeria selection. He received his first call-up by Coach Daniel Amokachi in March 2015 and made his debut on the 25th of the same month in an international friendly against Uganda, when he replaced Anthony Ujah after 59 minutes in the game. He scored his first goal for Nigeria in an international friendly against Niger on 8 September 2015, the second in a 2–0 win. He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics. His football history however, is a good one to lead him to Russia 2018 World Cup.

John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel) debuted against Kenya in a 1–1 draw where he was used as a substitute to replace an injured Victor Moses in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. On 31 May 2013, Ogu scored his first international goal against Mexico in a friendly game which took place at the Reliant Stadium in Houston. He was selected as one of 23 players to participate in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup on 9 June 2013 by the then Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi. On 18 March 2015, He was called up among 27 other players for the proposed friendly matches against Bolivia and South Africa and he scored Nigeria’s lone goal in the 1-1 draw with Algeria in the last tie of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Algeria 1–0 last year. He will no doubt be considered for Russia 2018 World Cup.

Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands) played for youth teams of several different amateur clubs and joined professional club ADO Den Haag from amateurs EDO in 2013. He made his Eredivisie debut at 10th August 2014 in a 0-1 home defeat against Feyenoord Rotterdam. He was called up for friendlies vs Senegal and Burkina Faso in March 2017 and joined up with the squad. He made his senior debut for Nigeria in a 3-0 friendly win over Togo on 1 June 2017 and may likely be at Russia 2018 World Cup.

Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England) signed a new four-year contract, ending the rumors of him leaving the London side. After signing a new contract, Aina was included in the travelling squad to Austria and the United States and went on to play in all six pre-season matches. On 11 July 2017, Chelsea announced that they had loaned Aina to Championship side Hull City. He made his debut on the opening day of the season, 5 August 2017, away to Aston Villa in a 1–1 draw. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers in the third-round of the FA Cup on 6 January 2018. His good height which can enable him to play either as a left or right back is an advantage. He might be among Rohr’s selection for Russia 2018 World Cup.

Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt) was selected by Nigeria for their 18-man squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics, after helping them qualify to Rio with his decisive goals. He might make it to Russia 2018 World Cup.

Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium) got his first call up to the Super Eagles in October 2016 to replace the injured Leon Balogun for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia’s Chipolopolo. From the current trends and Rohr’s moves, he might be among the chosen one.

Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United) is a product of Water FC Academy in Abuja. In February 2016 he signed a contract with Ukrainian club FC Karpaty. He was on the provisional squad for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, but eventually did not play any games for this team. In May 2015 he was called up for the Nigeria national football team in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification to play against Chad national football team, but again he did not play in this match. Who knows, he might be lucky come Russia 2019 World Cup.

Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France), a Coal-City born defender was called up by Nigeria for friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg, on 27 and 31 May 2016. He made his senior debut on 1 June 2017, starting in a 3–0 win over Togo in Paris. Russia 2018 World Cup will boost his career big time.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

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