Africa Cup 2015 Featured
2015 AFRICA CUP - MOVING 2015 EVENT 'ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE'

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) insists the tournament will go ahead on time, starting on 17 January. But Dr Kofi Amoah told the BBC: "It could be a sham. I don't think there is enough time for anyone to do it."

More
14 Nov 2014
Africa Cup 2015 Qualifiers National teams Stars in Europe
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - GABON - 5TH MATCHES - PREVIEW

Gabon's Aubameyang to miss qualifier.

More
14 Nov 2014
Key-Player Player Of The Year
2014 AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR - SHORTLIST REVEALED

The five-man shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2014 has been revealed.

More
13 Nov 2014
Africa Cup 2015 Qualifiers Coaches National teams
NATIONAL TEAM - GHANA - COACH - AVRAM GRANT IN NEGOTIATIONS

The Black Stars have been without a coach since Appiah left the job after the opening two 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and was replaced by Maxwell Konadu on a temporary basis.

More
13 Nov 2014
Africa Cup 2015 Africa Cup 2015 Qualifiers CAF Featured
2015 AFRICA CUP - MOROCCO WILL NOT HOST FINALS OVER EBOLA FEARS

Morocco will not host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations because of its fears over the Ebola outbreak elsewhere on the continent, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.

More
12 Nov 2014
Africa Cup 2015 Qualifiers National teams Squad
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - IVORY COAST - 5TH MATCHES - PREVIEW

Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard has recalled veterans Kolo Toure and Didier Zokora to his squad for the final 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Neither defender has featured for the Elephants in the 2015 qualifiers so far.

More
11 Nov 2014
Key-Player Player Of The Year
2014 African Footballer of the Year - BBC list to be named

On the morning of 10 November, the BBC will unveil the five names in the running for the 2014 prize. The public will then be able to vote online via the BBC Sport pages and via text.

More
9 Nov 2014
Rising Stars Talents
AFRICAN FUTURE FOOTBALL STARS - RISING STARS

On monday the shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the year 2014 will be revealed. While those five names will be established superstars from the continent, there are also a number of excellent young players coming through the ranks - emerging talent who themselves may soon compete for the title.

More
9 Nov 2014
Africa Cup 2015 CAF
2015 AFRICA CUP - MOROCCO FAILS TO MEET DEADLINE

Morocco have failed to meet the deadline to confirm it will host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in January.

More
8 Nov 2014
Africa Cup 2015 Breaking News CAF Featured
BREAKING NEWS - UNDERSTANDING THE EBOLA VIRUS AND HOW YOU CAN AVOID IT

Advanced Learning Interactive Systems Online (ALISON), a global online education company based in Ireland, created the MOOC in an effort to educate people in West Africa on Ebola in hopes of preventing spread of the disease. ​

More
7 Nov 2014
Coaches Key-Player National teams Stars in Europe

Africa Cup 2019 Qualifiers - Nigeria - Captain left out of Super Eagles squad

John Mikel Obi  Africa Cup 2019 QualifiersEmbed from Getty Images

Captain John Mikel Obi is the most notable absentee from Nigeria's squad for their final 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Seychelles and a friendly against Egypt later this month.

The 31-year-old, who has been impressive at English championship club Middlesbrough, has not played for his country since he captained the Super Eagles at last year's World Cup in Russia.

Despite public assurances from coach Gernot Rohr that Mikel would make a return, the player has been left out of the 23-man squad for the home fixtures in Asaba on 22 and 26 March respectively.

But the door appears to remain open for the former Chelsea star.

"The coach is very happy that Mikel is playing well for Middlesbrough at a very good level," team spokesman Toyin Ibitoye told BBC Sport.

"He's definitely part of the team but coach Rohr believes he has to take things easy with him so as not to overload him," Ibitoye added.

Rohr has handed maiden call-ups to uncapped Denmark-based striker Paul Onuachu and under-20 defender Valentine Ozornwafor, while there is a recall for former U-17 World Cup winner Victor Osimhen.

Struggling Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has been overlooked after failing to score a goal for club or country since September, but England-based quintet of Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, Semi Ajayi and Oghenekaro Etebo are included.

Also present is the experienced quartet of Odion Ighalo, joint-top scorer in qualifying with six goals, Troost-Ekong, Ahmed Musa and John Ogu.

Champions in 2013, Nigeria have already secured qualification for this year's tournament in Egypt after failing to reach back-to-back events in 2015 and 2017.


Nigeria 23-man squad


Goalkeepers

Francis Uzoho 
(Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus)

Ikechukwu Ezenwa 
(Katsina United)

Daniel Akpeyi 
(Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)


Defenders

Olaoluwa Aina 
(Torino, Italy)

Abdullahi Shehu 
(Bursaspor, Turkey)

Valentine Ozornwafor 
(Enyimba)

Chidozie Awaziem 
(Rizespor, Turkey)

William Troost-Ekong 
(Udinese, Italy)

Leon Balogun 
(Brighton & Hove Albion, England)

Kenneth Omeruo 
(Leganes, Spain)

Jamilu Collins 
(SC Padeborn, Germany)


Midfielders

Semi Ajayi 
(Rotherham United, England)

Wilfred Ndidi 
(Leicester City, England)

Oghenekaro Etebo 
(Stoke City, England)

John Ogu 
(Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel)


Forwards

Ahmed Musa 
(Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia)

Victor Osimhen 
(Charleroi SC, Belgium)

Moses Simon 
(Levante, Spain)

Henry Onyekuru 
(Galatasaray, Turkey)

Odion Ighalo 
(Shanghai Shenhua, China)

Alex Iwobi 
(Arsenal, England)

Samuel Kalu 
(Bordeaux, France)

Paul Onuachu 
(FC Midtjyland, Denmark)

 

 

 

5 Mar 2019
(BBC Sport by Alistair Magowan)

Related countries
Nigeria

Related articles