•Calls up Echiejile, Iheanacho, 23 others

By Joe Apu

Chelsea of England defender Victor Moses was conspicuously missing from the list of 25 players called up by the Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr on Monday night for the planned camping programme in France and the international friendly match against the Corsica team later this month.

The player who has been instrumental to the fortunes of Chelsea this season was not given a look in and no reasons were given for his being left out of the squad in the AFCON qualifier against South Africa.

The three-time African champions will open camp in Corsica on 24th May and then play against the Corsica Senior team two days later, before moving camp to Paris, capital of France for the second phase of the camping programme ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

Nigeria, unbeaten in a competitive game at senior level by South Africa since the Rainbow Nation returned to international football 25 years ago, go up against the familiar foes at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 10th June.

Injury has ruled out first –choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Championship, leaving home –based Ikechukwu Ezenwa to fight it out with fellow former junior international Dele Alampasu for the slot between the sticks.

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England –based duo Ola Aina (Chelsea FC) and Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC) have been granted permission to feature for their respective clubs in the English FA Cup final on 27th May before joining the squad in Paris.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah); Dele Alampasu (Cesarense FC, Portugal)

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Ekong (KAA Gent, Belgium); Uche Agbo (CF Granada, Spain); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Gijon, Spain); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Alhassan Ibrahim (Akwa United FC)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Stephen Odey (MFM FC); Olanrewaju Kayode (FC Austria Wien, Austria); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Noah Serenren-Bazee (Hannover 96, Germany); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany); Sikiru Olatubosun (MFM FC)