May 15, 2018//-Nigeria, Egypt, Germany, Portugal and others have named their Preliminary Squads ahead of this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Nigeria
Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has given home-based star, Junior Lokosa, a boost to play at the summer World Cup when he named the Kano Pillars forward in his 30-man provisional list released on Monday.
However, Rohr dropped Brown Ideye and injured Henry Onyekuru just as he failed to name Al Alhy player maker, Junior Ajayi in his list.
The list has four goalkeepers and they are Francis Uzoho, Dele Ajiboye, Daniel Akpeyi, and Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Chidera Eze, Chidozie Awaziem, Kenneth Omeruo, Shehu Abdullahi, Tyrone Ebuhehi, Ola Aina, Elderson Echejile, Brian Idowu and Stephen Eze are the defenders.
Midfielders named by the coach are John Mikel Obi, Joel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Etebo Oghenekaro, John Ogu, Onyiye Ndidi, Uche Agbo and Mikel Agu.
Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo, Kelechi Ihenacho, Ahmed Musa, Junior Lokosa, Simeon Nwankwo, and Moses Simon – forwards.
DAILY INDEPENDENT gathered that the list would be pruned down to 23 by June 4, the same day that Rohr would forward his final list for the World Cup to FIFA.
Nigeria is in Group D alongside, former champions, Argentina, Croatia and Iceland. The Super Eagles will play Croatia first before taking on Iceland with the last Group match against Argentina.
Meanwhile, sportswear manufacturers, NIKE have opened talks with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for an improved sghirt sponsorship deal for the Super Eagles that will include cash backing.
Egypt
Egypt named a 29-man preliminary squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup in Russia, according to Goal.com.
Mohamed Salah, enjoying an incredible debut season with Liverpool, is joined on the list by Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny, whom despite being sidelined by an ankle injury, was listed.
Veteran goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is also in line to become the oldest ever player in the competition.
The 45-year-old captain will be expected to lead from the back with Al Ahly duo Mohamed El-Shennawy and Sherif Ekramy with Ismaily shot-stopper Mohamed Awad providing necessary competitions.
Kasimpasa livewire Trezeguet and Stoke City youngster Ramadan Sobhi are also included in the list.
Egypt list in full
Goalkeepers: Essam El Hadary [Al Taawoun, Saudi Arabia], Mohamed El-Shennawy and Sherif Ekramy [Al Ahly], Mohamed Awad [Ismaily];
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi, Saad Samir and Ayman Ashraf [Al Ahly], Mahmoud Hamdy [Zamalek], Mohamed Abdel-Shafy [Al Fateh, Saudi Arabia] Ahmed Hegazi and Ali Gabr [West Bromwich Albion, England], Ahmed Elmohamady [Aston Villa, England], Karim Hafez [RC Lens, France], Omar Gaber [Los Angeles FC, USA], Amro Tarek [Orlando City, USA];
Midfielders: Tarek Hamed and Mahmoud Abdel Aziz [Zamalek], Shikabala [Al Raed, Saudi Arabia], Abdallah Said [KuPS, Finland], Sam Morsy [Wigan Athletic, England], Mohamed Elneny [Arsenal, England], Kahraba [Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia], Ramadan Sobhi [Stoke City, England], Trezeguet [Kasimpasa, Turkey], Amr Warda [Atromitos, Greece];
Forwards: Marwan Mohsen [Al Ahly], Ahmed Gomaa [Al Masry], Kouka [SC Braga, Portugal], Mohamed Salah [Liverpool, England].
Egypt are drawn against Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group A of the tournament. And the list would be trimmed to the competition’s standard of 23 players.
Germany
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Borussia Dortmund winger Marco Reus have been included in Germany’s provisional squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Neuer has been injured since September, when he suffered a fractured foot, and has made just four appearances since last April.
Manager Joachim Low, however, has included the Bayern Munich goalkeeper in his provisional squad, along with Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Bayer Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno and PSG stopper Kevin Trapp.
Low has confirmed that the intention is to test Neuer’s fitness ahead of the tournament starting, telling reporters: “We want to see for ourselves if Manuel Neuer is fit, we have a chance to see and assess him. And after the training camp we want to talk fair and square.”
Reus, meanwhile, finally has a chance to play in a World Cup, having returned to form and fitness at Borussia Dortmund since his comeback from injury in February.
The winger missed the 2014 tournament in Brazil, despite being named in the initial squad, after sustaining an ankle injury in the team’s warm-up win over Armenia.
His club-mate Mario Gotze, who scored the winning goal in the final as Germany triumphed four years ago, misses out, however, after suffering a severe dip in form at Signal Iduna Park this term.
Mario Gomez could add to his 73 caps in Russia, having previously played in Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012 and Euro 2016. However, he missed out on playing in the 2014 World Cup due to an injury-hit season.
Portugal squad
Renato Sanches is a sensational absence for Portugal in the 2018 World Cup, failing to find a place even among the Euro 2016 winner’s preliminary 35-man squad announced on Monday.
According to Goal.com, Sanches played six out of seven games as an 18-year-old in France as the side led by Cristiano Ronaldo took their first-ever international title.
But he has failed to shine at either Bayern Munich or Swansea City since then, and will play no part in manager Fernando Santos’ squad for the World Cup finals.
Unsurprisingly Selecao captain Ronaldo is included among the call-ups, while there is also a place for veteran playmaker Ricardo Quaresma.
Ronaldo likely will not in action when Portugal takes to the field in a friendly against Tunisia on May 28, which is two days after Real Madrid’s Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev. It is the first of three friendlies for the Selecao, who then battle Belgium on June 2 and Algeria on June 6 to close out their World Cup preparations.
The nation will then square off in Group B at the World Cup, which opens with a match up against Iberian neighbors Spain on June 15, followed by game against nearby Morocco on June 20. The nation ends its group stage against Iran on June 25.
While Santos has named a full 35-man preliminary roster, he is expected to quickly cut his side down to the 23 he plans to take to Russia in the next few days.
Portugal preliminary squad in full:
Goalkeepers:
- Anthony Lopes (Lyon),
- Beto (Goztepe),
- Rui Patrício (Sporting)
Defenders:
- Antunes (Getafe),
- Bruno Alves (Rangers),
- Cédric Soares (Southampton),
- João Cancelo (Inter),
- José Fonte (Dalian Yifang),
- Luís Neto (Fenerbahçe),
- Mário Rui (Nápoles),
- Nélson Semedo (Barcelona),
- Pepe (Besiktas),
- Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund),
- Ricardo Pereira (FC Porto),
- Rolando (Marselha)
- Rúben Dias (Benfica)
Midfielders:
- Adrien Silva (Leicester),
- André Gomes (Barcelona),
- Bruno Fernandes (Sporting),
- João Mário (West Ham),
- João Moutinho (Mónaco),
- Manuel Fernandes (Lokomotiv),
- Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton),
- Sérgio Oliveira (FC Porto),
- William Carvalho (Sporting)
Forwards:
- André Silva (Milan),
- Bernardo Silva (Manchester City),
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid),
- Éder (Lokomotiv),
- Gelson Martins (Sporting),
- Gonçalo Guedes (Valência),
- Nani (Lazio),
- Paulinho (SC Braga),
- Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas),
- Ronny Lopes (Mónaco).
Colombia
Monaco sharpshooter Radamel Falcao and Bayern Munich star James Rodriguez will spearhead Colombia’s efforts in the 2018 World Cup after earning a place in the nation’s provisional 35-man squad.
James took the top scorer award while representing the Cafeteros in 2014 when they reached the quarter-finals in Brazil, eventually going out to the hosts.
His form at that tournament convinced Real Madrid to sign the playmaker from Monaco, before leaving for the Bundesliga on loan in 2017.
African Eye Report with files from websites
