NFF invites 25 NPFL players for Mexico friendly

ENYIMBA pair, John Noble and Anayo Iwuala, as well as long-term Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa head a list of 25 players invited to camp for Nigeria’s friendly match against Mexico, the Nigeria Football Federation announced on Sunday night.

The friendly will be played at the Los Angeles Coliseum in
California, the United States of America on 3 July.

The match is the final part of the MexTour Series of four friendly games for CONCACAF Gold Cup champions Mexico.

Also included in the Super Eagles squad of all home-based players are Rivers United defender Ifeanyi Anaemena, Enyimba midfielder Ekundayo Ojo and Enugu Rangers forward Ibrahim Olawoyin.

Abia Warriors defender Adekunle Adeleke returns after being involved in the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March, while Akwa United midfielder Seth Mayi and Kano Pillars forward Auwalu Ali are among those receiving their first call-ups.

The NFF says the 25 players are expected to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday with their travel documents for processing, but only 22 of them will travel to the USA for the friendly.

The Super Eagles players based abroad cannot be involved in the match because they will either be rounding off their vacations by the time it is played or be involved in pre-season training with their clubs. The game is also not in the FIFA international window.

The match will be the sixth time Nigeria and Mexico are meeting at senior men’s level, with four of the encounters ending in draws.

The only win in the match-ups went to Mexico at the US Gold Cup in 1995 when they won 2-1.

Super Eagles squad for Mexico friendly

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); John Noble (Enyimba FC).

Defenders: Olisa Ndah (Akwa United); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors); Tope Olusesi (Rangers International); Ifeanyi Anaemena (Rivers United); Christopher Nwaeze (Kwara United); Enyinnaya Kazie (Rivers United); Mohammed Zirkiflu (Plateau United); Imoh Ubot (Enyimba FC); Tebo Franklin Degaulle (Nasarawa United); Lawal Oriyomi Murtala (Kwara United).

Midfielders: Anthony Shimaga (Rangers International); Seth Mayi (Akwa United); Uche Nwasonaya (Plateau United); Samuel Nnoshiri (Katsina United); Ekundayo Ojo (Enyimba FC).

Forwards: Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Stephen Jude (Kwara United); Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers International); Charles Ashimene (Akwa United); Chinonso Ezekwe (Rangers International); Auwalu Ali Malam (Kano Pillars); Neurot Emmanuel (Plateau United); Abdulmutalif Sanusi (Katsina United).