In what seems to be a good move in the right direction, Nigeria Under-23 national team coach Samson Siasia has handed out invitations to 47 foreign-based players to try out for a spot on his team, including former under-17 playmaker Kelechi Iheanacho.
Siasia, who has been in camp for the past ten days working with the home-based players, has named a handful of players that won the Fifa Under-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets in 2013.
Leading that cast is Iheanacho alongside his teammates from that cup-winning team that includes Isaac Success, now with Granada in La Liga, Taiwo Awoniyi of Kalmar FF in the Swedish Allveskan and Musa Yahaya.
Barcelona’s B team defender Godswill Ekpolo is also in the list that includes Semi Ajayi of Arsenal in England, Michael Olaitan of Olympiakos in Greece and the AS Trencin duo of Moses ‘Daddy’ Ajala and Kingsley Madu.
All invited players are expected to arrive at the Fifa Goal Project camp this Saturday in Abuja.
Full list of invited players:
Goalkeepers: John Felagha (Eupen FC, Belgium, Sebastian Osigwe (SC Kriens)
Central Defenders: Noah Olawale Ojuola (St George FC), Godswill Elohor Ekpolo (FC Barcelona, Spain), Semi Ajayi (Arsenal FC, England), Nosa Egharevba (New York FC, USA), William Troost Ekong (DFC Dordrecht, Holland), Kelvin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim Germany), Amstrong Chidi (Lefke Turk Kulub, Cyprus)
Right & Left-Back: Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin), Dominic Iorfa (Wolves FC, England), Chima Okoroji (Bayern Munich, Germany), Musa Muhammed (Besiktas, Turkey)
Midfielders: Moses Simon Ajala (AS Trencin), Moses Odubajo (Brentford FC), Musefiu Ashiru (FC Midtjylland), Kehinde Amoo Owoeye (KS Kastrioti Kruje), Gerald Chibueze Diyoke (HNK Rijeka FC, Croatia), Fred Onyedinma (Millwall FC), Chidi Osuchukwu (FC Braga), Lawal Abdulazeez Abidemi (Naftan Novopolofsk, Belarus), Anthony Bassey (Kas Eupen), Shehu Abdullahi (Al Qadsia Kuwait), Samuel Owolabi Olajide (HB Koge, Denmark), Kevin Effiong Bassey (SBV Wehen, Germany), Oladele Oshobe (Plovdiv Lokomotiv, Bulgaria), Anderson Esiti (Estoril Praia, Portugal), Samuel M. Ayinoko (Angelholms FC, Sweden), Sunday D. Abalo (Rio Ave, Portugal)
Forwards & Strikers: Michael Olaitan (Olympiakos, Greece), Paul Ebere Onuachu (FC Midtjylland), Imoh Fred Friday (Lillestrom), Lucky Omeruo (Birkirkara FC, Malta), Aminu Umar(Samsunspor FC, Turkey) Imoh Ezekiel (Alarabi SC, Qatar), Cedric Omoigui (Real Mallorca, Spain), Odion Goodness Ajayi (HNK Rijeka, Croatia), Isaac Succes (Granada, Spain), Atanda Sodiq Ololade (FK Apolonia FC), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England), Fosayo Adarabioyo (Crystal Palace, England), Uche Ikpeazu (Watford FC, England), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England) Taiwo Awoniyi (Kalmar FF, Sweden), Musa Yahaya (Tottenham, England), Maxwell Onyewuchi Alozie (Beni Sakhnin FC, Israel).