National teams Squad World Cup 2014 World Cup 2014 warm up
2014 World Cup - Ghana - squad - Jeffery Schlupp dropped from 23-man squad

Leicester City's Jeffery Schlupp has been axed from Ghana's 2014 World Cup squad. The defender is one of three players dropped from the preliminary 26-man World Cup squad announced on 12 May.

More
1 Jun 2014
African Champions League Stars in Africa Transfers
African Champions League 2014 - TP Mazembe sign Zimbabwe midfielder Ali Sadiki

Democratic Republic of Congo champions TP Mazembe have signed Zimbabwe international midfielder Ali Sadiki.

More
31 May 2014
Fixtures+Results Friendly National teams Stars in Europe World Cup 2014 warm up
2014 World Cup - warm up - Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Ivory Coast 2:1

Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure has contracted malaria and missed the 2:1 defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina in a world Cup Warm-up on Saturday. Yaya Toure also missed the friendly in St Louis with a muscle problem. The pair's absence was felt by the Elephants, who fell to a double strike by Edin Dzeko.

More
31 May 2014
Africa Cup 2015 Qualifiers
2015 Africa Cup qualifier - first round second leg - fixtures

Constantine aims to inspire Rwanda in Africa Cup qualifiers Englishman Stephen Constantine takes charge of Rwanda for the first time this weekend and has the chance to make an instant impact by causing an upset in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

More
30 May 2014
Fixtures+Results Friendly National teams World Cup 2014 World Cup 2014 warm up
2014 World Cup - warm up - Nigeria vs Scotland 2:2

Substitute Uche Nwofor's late strike denied Scotland victory against Nigeria at Craven Cottage.

More
29 May 2014
National teams World Cup 2014 World Cup 2014 warm up
2014 World Cup - Cameroon agree fees with players

Cameroon's Football Federation and the country's government have agreed to pay FCFA 50m (US$104,000) to each player in the final 23-man World Cup squad.

More
28 May 2014
Featured Legends
LEGENDS - ‪‪FRANCE - Claude Makélélé‬ - the deep-lying playmaker - the "Makélélé Role" -

In homage to Makélélé, many fans and pundits alike have dubbed the defensive midfield position as the "Makélélé Role".

More
28 May 2014
Coaches National teams World Cup 2014 World Cup 2014 warm up
NATIONAL TEAM - GHANA - COACH - Kwesi Appiah given new contract

Appiah, a former Black Stars captain, was appointed in April 2012 with objectives to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and qualify the side for the 2014 World Cup.

More
27 May 2014
African Champions League Coaches
African Champions League 2014 - Krol sacked by Esperance after second defeat

Previously, he had coached another Tunisian side, CS Sfaxien, who he lead to the Confederation Cup last November. He replaced Frenchman Sebastien Desabre, who took up the role of technical director. Krol's backroom staff have also been dismissed. 

More
27 May 2014
Fixtures+Results Friendly National teams Squad World Cup 2014 World Cup 2014 warm up
2014 World Cup - warm up - Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o was rested

Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o was rested as his side's injury problems mounted ahead of the World Cup during the win against Macedonia in Austria.

More
27 May 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