Morocco 2025: AJ Auxerre defender, Gabriel Osho, gets first international call-up, as Eguavoen invites 23 for AFCON qualifiers

Posted : 07 November 2024

AJ Auxerre FC defender Gabriel Osho has received his much-anticipated call-up to the senior national team as acting Head Coach Austin Eguavoen invites 23 players for the final phase of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Osho, who recently joined the French side AJ Auxerre from Luton Town, is set to make his debut for the Super Eagles, replacing Semi Ajayi, who is out due to injury.

Watch NPFL Matches LIVE: https://www.africasport.net/livetv/nigeria

Other notable names in the squad include captain William Ekong, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, winger Moses Simon, reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, and 19 others who will aim to secure six points against Benin Republic and Rwanda in the final rounds of the 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign this month.

Coach Austin Eguavoen has also called up goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye; defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel; midfielders Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi; and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, and Samuel Chukwueze.

Home-based defender Victor Collins will join the group for the first time, and forward Sadiq Umar of Real Sociedad in Spain makes his return.

Defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are also listed, while France-based Gabriel Osho will hope to play his first competitive game for Nigeria after missing his initial call-up in the summer due to injury.

The Super Eagles will fly directly to Abidjan on November 11 for their match against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny on Thursday, November 14, before returning to Uyo for the final qualifying game against Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Monday, November 18.

Currently atop Group D, the Super Eagles will secure a spot in the final tournament if they earn a point against the Cheetahs, which would bring them to 11 points, with only final-day opponents Rwanda potentially able to match their total.

With a current tally of seven goals scored and none conceded (following the CAF Disciplinary Board’s award of three points and three goals from the forfeited Matchday 4 encounter against Libya), the Super Eagles hold a strong advantage over the Amavubi, who have a one-goal deficit and five points going into the last two matchdays.

Squad List:

Goalkeepers:
- Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
- Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy)
- Amas Obasogie (Fasil Kenema SC, Ethiopia)

Defenders:
- William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia)
- Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey)
- Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)
- Gabriel Osho (AJ Auxerre, France)
- Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
- Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
- Victor Collins (Nasarawa United, Nigeria)

Midfielders:
- Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
- Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
- Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA)
- Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC, Italy)
- Frank Onyeka (Augsburg FC, Germany)
- Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards:
- Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
- Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey)
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain)
- Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
- Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
- Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)

Morocco 2025: AJ Auxerre defender, Gabriel Osho, gets first international call-up, as Eguavoen invites 23 for AFCON qualifiers

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics