Musa, Ekong, Ndidi, Simon Top Eguavoen’s 32 Provisional Lists against Ghana

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• Lookman sets for Nigeria’s debut

Technical Adviser, Augustine Eguavoen has called up Captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong, midfielder Wifred Ndidi and forwards Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho in a Super Eagles’ provisional list of 32 for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 play-off round against the Black Stars of Ghana.

Interestingly, Ademola Lookman is in line to make his Nigeria debut after being named in the Super Eagles’ squad for their 2022 World Cup play-off against Ghana.

The 24-year-old winger, who is on loan at Leicester City from German club RB Leipzig, represented England at youth level but was cleared to play for Nigeria last month.

Lookman was part of the England Under-20 squad which won the U20 World Cup in 2017.

Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis, who was withdrawn from the squad for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, has also been included by Eguavoen.

The Hornets reportedly refused to release Dennis for the tournament in Cameroon and a Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) statement said the 24-year-old had been excused because Watford were “baring fangs”.

Meanwhile, Calvin Bassey has earned a recall to the Nigerian national team as the Super Eagles aim to clinch their place at the World Cup Finals.

The young Rangers defender was disappointed when he was left out of the squad for the African Cup of Nations.

He has yet to be capped after being selected last year but unused in a Word Cup double header with the Central African Republic.

But he has been brought back  for the double header against Ghana later this month after a series of impressive displays with the Scottish Premiership champions.

Bassey has made the left back slot his own in recent games and has also performed well at centre back with Gio van Bronckhorst trusting him ahead of Borna Barisic.

Also called up are goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Abdullahi Shehu, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Odion Ighalo and Samuel Chukwueze.

Leicester City FC of England forward Lookman and former U17 World Cup star Akinkunmi Amoo are officially called for the first time, while defender Bassey and Dennis return to the fold of the three –time African champions.

2021 AFCON forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Peter Olayinka, defender Chidozie Awaziem and long-time absentee Ogenyi Onazi are in a seven-man standby list.

Meanwhile, Everton winger Alex Iwobi has been omitted from the Super Eagles squad to take on Ghana in back-to-back matches.

The Hale End Academy product was not invited because he is ineligible for the games against the Black Stars after he was red carded in Nigeria’s round of 16 clash against Tunisia at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The camp opens in Abuja on March 21, with a 24 –man final list for the two big games to be released at a later date.

Nigeria take on Ghana in the 20,000 –capacity Cape Coast Sports Stadium as from 7.30pm on Friday March 25, with the reverse leg set for the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, March 29 as from 6pm. The winner over two legs will earn one of Africa’s five tickets to the 22nd FIFA World Cup finals, scheduled for November 14–December 18 this year in Qatar.