Nigerians optimistic as Gernot Rohr becomes new Super Eagles coach

Super Eagles of Nigeria will open camp for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game on Sunday as invited players are expected to arrive on Monday.

The clash against Tanzania is a ‘do or die’ as both sides have no chance of qualifying for the tournament to be held in Gabon next year.

The Super Eagles will converge in Uyo, venue of the game as from Monday with a full complement of invited players expected to make the trip.

Team captain John Mikel Obi is expected to be in Uyo on Tuesday as the local trio of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Emmanuel Daniel and Jamiu Alimi are expected to be among the early birds.

FK Haugesund defender and Olympics bronze medallist William Troost-Ekong is already en-route Uyo as well as Watford’s Odion Ighalo.

KAA Gent’s Moses Simon is expected in Nigeria will on Tuesday morning as his club is involved in a league game on Sunday night.

New Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is also expected to be in Uyo on Monday as he will have two tabs on the game. The German will want to start his Nigeria sojourn with a win as well as getting an idea of his team and how to prepare for the Fifa World Cup qualifier against Zambia in October.

Nigeria have failed to make the Africa Cup of Nations for the second successive time and will look to end the qualifiers on a high with a win against the Taifa Stars next Saturday at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo.

Super Eagles squad

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

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 (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany)