Football
Colin Udoh, Special to ESPN 8y

Gernot Rohr's first Nigeria squad includes Mikel, Iheanacho, Musa

Gernot Rohr has named his first Nigeria squad, picking five England-based players and a handful from the 2016 Olympic team squad to face Tanzania in an 2017 African Nations Cup tie.

Neither country can qualify for the tournament, with the single qualifying place already won by Egypt, but the Super Eagles are using the game as a dress rehearsal for the 2018 World Cup qualifying clash away to Zambia in Ndola in October.

Rohr, named this month as Nigeria coach, has selected 23 players with captain Mikel John Obi heading a list of players from the English Premier League which includes Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho and Leicester City forward Ahmed Musa.

They are joined by Watford's Odion Ighalo and goalkeeper Carl Ikeme from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Olympic goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel was one of four rewarded for the side's outstanding performance in Rio, when they made the semifinals, along with defenders William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi and Imoh Ezekiel.

Rohr has also handed a surprise recall to Maccabi Tel Aviv's Nosa Igiebor, who has not featured for Nigeria since missing the cut for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, as well as Wolfsburg youngster Victor Osimhen.

Training camp opens Aug. 28 for the game scheduled for the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, Sept. 3.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC Ifeanyi Ubah)

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Imoh Ezekiel (Al-Arabi Sporting Club, Qatar), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiakos FC, Greece); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany)

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