AFCON2021Q: In form Onuachu dropped as Umar makes 24-man Super Eagles list

Football411 can confirm that Nigeria’s top scorer this season in Europe Paul Onuachu has been dropped from the Super Eagles AFCON2021Q squad list. 

In the 24-man squad released on Tuesday, the Genk forward was only placed on standby by Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr.  

Despite scoring 25 goals in 29 matches this season for Genk in the Jupiler, the giant striker leads the standby list that includes other in form forwards like Olayinka Peter of Slavia Prague and Terem Moffi of FC Lorient. 

Meanwhile, he may be playing in the Spanish second division but Saqid Umar has been rewarded for his superb form for UD Almeria.

The former AS Roma star gets his first ever call up and will join captain of the side, Ahmed Musa, who is currently unattached, and 22 others to tackle Nigeria’s remaining matches in the AFCON2021Q later this month. 

Other invited players include Leon Balogun,  Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina, Oghenekaro Etebo and Leicester City duo, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho.  

From the home front, it is good news for NPFL followers as the league is represented by two players, goalkeeper,  John Noble of Enyimba,  who is part of the 24, and Adekunle Adeleke of Abia Warriors on standby. 

The Super Eagles face the Squirrels of Benin first in Porto Novo on Saturday, 27th March before concluding their journey at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos three days later against Lesotho.  

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, The Netherlands)

Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosa, Cyprus); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)  

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Sadiq Umar (Almeria FC, Spain); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Kalu (FC Girondins Bordeaux, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)

Standby: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Michael Olise (Reading FC, England); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors).