Three survivors from 2013 Super Eagles squads in South African to feature in 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Nigeria last triumph at an African tournament was in 2013 in South Africa, where the Super Eagles became champions for the third time after beating Burkina Faso 1-0 courtesy to Sunday Mba second-half strike.
With Gernot Rohr names his 23man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations only three (3) players survived from the late Stephen Keshi 2013 winning team just six years on, many these stars have retired from the game, while others are still playing active football in small clubs in Europe.
The surviving Super Eagles players are Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes/Chelsea), Mikel Obi (Unattached) and Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr) while Elderson Echiejile (HJK Helsinki), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor) and Victor Moses (Fenerbahce/ Chelsea) who feature in 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia miss out from the present team.
The 32-year-old Mikel who is currently Super Eagles captains made his senior debut for Nigeria senior August 2005 and former Chelsea midfielder hopes to add his 87 caps which has made his the third all-time leading appearances for the three-time African Champions.
Musa was one of the youngest players in the squad when Gernot Rohr’s men, helped the Super Eagles win the competition in South Africa 2013, and will be aiming to lead the team to victory in Egypt and he is currently the vice-captain of the Eagles preparing for the 2019 AFCON.
Omeruo was an important part of Nigeria’s squad to the tournament after replaced Joesph Yobo in the Nigeria second game against Zambia, which ended 1-1, and kept his place till the end of Mundial and the Chelsea star is one of the three players in the current squad to have won the AFCON title.
The 25-year-old defender has been sent on loan at Kasimpasa twice and also starred for ADO Den Haag, Middlesbrough, Alanyaspor and Leganes since joining the Europa League holders.
After losing 1-0 to Senegal in their last warm-up game, Nigeria begin their 18th appearance with a clash against Saido Beraino’s led Burundi on June 22 in Alexandria.