While Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund is still pleading with clubs to release players ahead of next month’s African Nations Championship (CHAN), Nigeria have named their team and it includes golden striker Sunday Mba.
Coach Stephen Keshi has also added three Under-17 national team players in the 30-man provisional team, which started their camp in the capital Abuja on Monday. The trio — Kelechi Iheanacho, Dele Alampasu and Taiwo Awoniyi — were part of the Nigerian team that won the 2013 Fifa Under-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates.
Mba became a household name after top drawer performances during the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals held in South Africa at the beginning of the year. The 24-year-old Warri Wolves striker scored the goal that ended Nigeria’s 19-year wait for their third Afcon victory after beating Burkina Faso in the final.
After that tournament, various European clubs were believed to be after his signature. These included Everton, Bayern Leverkusen and Dinamo Zagreb.
Besides Mba, three other players who were part of the Afcon squad are in the CHAN team that Keshi is confident will win the title. They are goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers) and midfielder Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves) and striker Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers).
Nigeria are in Group A along with hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in the tournament, which runs from January 11 to February 1.
South African soccer authorities have been in talks behind the scenes to see how best to assist Igesund with the best possible squad. South African Football Association CE Dennis Mumble is in possession of Igesund’s wish list, which he will be discussing with Premier Soccer League (PSL) CEO Brand de Villiers. Igesund is also personally talking to coaches of the clubs in the PSL.
Agencies
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