Junior Nduka Leads Final 23-Man Super Eagles B Squad for 2024 CHAN

Remo Stars captain, Junior Nduka, has been named in the final 23-man Super Eagles B squad for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled to take place from August 2 to 20 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

CHAN Eagles’ squad was announced on Tuesday by head coach Eric Chelle following the team’s final pre-tournament friendly match against Ikorodu City at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

Nduka, who captained the team during the CHAN qualifiers last year, is joined by eight of his Remo Stars teammates: Sodiq Ismail, Alex Oyowah, Qudus Akanni, Sikiru Alimi, Michael Tochukwu, Haruna Hadi, Jabbar Malik, and Olamilekan Adedayo. This makes the club the most represented in the squad.

Shooting Stars’ Mustapha Lawal, Enyimba’s Henry Ani Ozoemena, and Kwara United’s Badmus Nurudeen were selected as the three goalkeepers for the tournament.

Other defenders on the list include Stephen Manyo (Rivers United), Leonard Ngenge (Ikorodu City), and Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United).

Bayelsa United’s Daniel Bameyi, who captained Nigeria’s U-20 team at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, also made the final list and is expected to play a key role in the competition.

In attack, Anthony Ijoma and Sikiru Alimi were selected to lead the front line. Alimi previously featured for the Super Eagles in the Unity Cup held in London.

Several players failed to make the final cut, including Joseph Atule (Enyimba), Ayomide Cole (Ikorodu City), Kabiru Muhammed (Kwara United), Aminu Umar (Kano Pillars), Zayyad Musa (Kano Pillars), and Aniekeme Okon (Rivers United).

Some players left camp to pursue transfer opportunities abroad, including Kayode Bankole and Sunday Megwo. Others like Adamu Abubakar, Papa Daniel, Adejoh Ojonugwa, Saviour Isaac, Waliu Ojetoye, and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (injured) did not join the camp.

The team is scheduled to depart for Tanzania on Thursday evening, where they will continue preparations and play more friendly matches ahead of the tournament.

Nigeria will play their first two group matches at the 2024 CHAN against Senegal and Sudan at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar before taking on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.