Nigeria's Latest Squad : Mikel Crucial, Uzoho Backed, Onyekuru Last Chance To Impress

Gernot Rohr has announced his Super Eagles duty-roster for next month's international games and as widely expected, there were few surprises because bar the inclusion of few new faces, the technical adviser had kept faith with most of his regular ones.

Deportivo La Coruna's Francis Uzoho and Sogndal Fotball's Chidiebere Nwakali earned their maiden call-ups while Anderlecht's hot shot, Henry Onyekuru rejoined the fold.

But what are the lucid things we might have glimpsed from it?

Uzoho to seize his chance — "Gernot Rohr does not trust Ezenwa and Akpeyi, he trusts Carl Ikeme and Vincent Enyeama." — these were the words of an insider from the NFF to allnigeriasoccer few hours ago; a notion borne out of the sheer paucity of credible goalkeeping options for Nigeria.

That is to say that with the trusted two currently unavailable, if there is any time a goal tender would fancy his
chances of nailing down the position between the sticks in this team, it is now.

The teenager, if called upon for any of the upcoming games should endeavour to do himself good by grabbing that chance by the scruff of the neck.

Mikel would always be crucial — It makes for some sort of improbability to think of what a Super Eagles set-up would look like without the 30-year old at the base of the midfield now.

While the Tianjin Teda man might not be everyone's cup of tea due to his less attacking or sometimes hesitant style of play, you can be well assured that he is unarguably one of the first name on the teamsheet.

And yet not by virtue of him being the captain. A great passer from deep who has the indisputable quality of stringing
together consummate play even in the face of adversity and holding his own astutely, there might be lingering doubts about his application to the course, but then, never about his ability.

Onyekuru must not fail to impress — The 20-year old has earned great reviews for his performances for Anderlecht this season and the NFF had as well, placed a lot of faith on the youngster.

What the Everton loanee would ill-afford to do now is to disappoint if ever he gets to add to his one-cap appearance in any of those games,his not-so-spectacular debut display against Togo now in distant memory.

The standby list can do more with quality — A look at the Super Eagles standby list and one would hardly argue that it left much more to be desired.

Brian Idowu, for all his brilliance, might yet leave some wondering the rationale behind the inclusion of the modest Amkar Perm defender there.

Okay, let's view it this way, (supposing) in the face of harsh realities, that is, injuries to either Balogun or Troost-Ekong, would Idowu be a reliable shoo-in for the aforementioned duo?

Kenneth Omeruo's performances for Kasimpàsa has been erratic at best and it is little secret he would do a lot more to displace any of the established Rohr's first choice picks.

The jury is still out on this one, seemingly.

Emmanuel Chinaza