Nigeria name 30-man preliminary squad for World Cup

Nigeria have announced their 30-man provisional squad for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.

Coach Gernot Rohr’s team has three local based players – two goalkeepers and a forward. Frequent members John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, William Troost-Ekong and defensive partner Leon Balogun made the cut.

Prominent names not included in the squad are Malaga striker Brown Ideye and Henry Onyekuru of R.S.C Anderlecht.

The Super Eagles are heading to their sixth World Cup, having taken part in the 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 editions – with a  place in the Round of 16 their best performance ever.

Nigeria begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 16 at the Kaliningrad Stadium before facing Iceland (June 22) and Argentina (June 26) in Volgograd and Saint Petersburg respectively.

The 2013 African Champions have lined up friendlies against DR Congo (May 25), England (June 2) and Austria (June 6) in preparations for the tourney.

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZIXpYw86uV

— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) January 19, 2018

Check the full squad below:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United), Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United)

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC,); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC); Leon Balogun (Mainz); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege); Joel Obi (Torino FC), Mikel Agu (Bursaspor FC)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City); Moses Simon (KAA Gent); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal); Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars); Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo (Crotone)