Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF), said in a statement on Tuesday that only
Netherlands-based goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was being expected out of the 23
invited.
“Team skipper Ahmed Musa, deputy skipper William Ekong and
goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi have arrived.
“Others in camp include: defenders Kevin Akpoguma, Jamilu
Collins, Chidozie Awaziem, Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey, Olaoluwa Aina,
Abdullahi Shehu and Kenneth Omeruo.
“There were also midfielders Chidera Ejuke, Innocent Bonke,
Frank Onyeka and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, as well as forwards Paul Onuachu, Samuel
Kalu, Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon,” he
said.
Thursday’s encounter at the Teslim Balogun Stadium will kick
off at 5 p.m.
A win will confirm Nigeria’s readiness to leap into the knockout
phase of the qualifying series early, ahead of the March 2022 date for that
all-important phase.
Les Fauves, whose 35-man contingent flew into Lagos on
Tuesday evening, are bottom of Group C with only one point and one goal for and
two goals against.
They trail the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on inferior number
of goals scored.
Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho had scored a brace to
kickstart Nigeria’s campaign on a fine footing early in September.
This was before Victor Osimhen’s equaliser and a spectacular
own goal by Blue Sharks’ defender Kenny Santos Rocha.
They both combined to hand the Eagles all the points in the
island of Mindelo to put them in firm control of the pool.
With the return encounter against the Les Fauves already
billed for the Stade Japoma de Douala on Sunday, the Super Eagles are eyeing a
possible six points.
This will make them unassailable in Group C, ahead of the
last two games away to Liberia and home to Cape Verde in November.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has
appointed Mauritanian official Abdel Aziz Bouh as referee for Thursday’s
encounter.
He will be assisted by compatriots Hamedine Diba (assistant
referee 1), Abderrahmane War (assistant referee 2) and Moussa Diou (fourth
official).
The referee assessor is Jerome Efong Nzolo from Gabon and
the match commissioner is Marcelin Gaha Djiadeu from Cameroon.
Salami Abdulrahim of Nigeria will be the game’s medical
officer