The League Management Company (LMC) on Tuesday released a list of 32 players shortlisted for further screening to make up the 22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) All-Stars squad.
The squad is for the NPFL-La Liga Tour coming up in August.
The list is made up of four goalkeepers, eight defenders, three defensive midfielders, seven central midfielders, seven wingers and six centre-forwards.
The goalkeepers are Emeka Nwabulu of El-Kanemi Warriors, Enyimba International’s Theophilus Afelokhai, Ikechukwu Ezenwa who recently joined FC IfeanyiUbah from Sunshine Stars and Okiemute Odah of Lobi Stars.
Rangers International’s Matthew Etim, Ifeanyi Nweke of MFM FC, Chima Akas of Enyimba, Gabriel Wassa of Niger Tornadoes and Enyimba’s captain, Chinedu Udoji are some of the defenders.
The others are Austin Obaroakpo of Abia Warriors, Kano Pillars’ Jamiu Alimi and Emmanuel Ariwa of Akwa United.
Shortlisted for the defensive midfield roles are former national under-20 team star Ifeanyi Ifeanyi of MFM FC, Dare Ojo of Enyimba and Dayo Ojo of Sunshine Stars.
The central midfielders include Obinna Nwobodo of Rangers, Otun Fawaz of Shooting Stars FC, Kano Pillars’ Rabiu Ali and Ibrahim Alhassan of Wikki Tourists.
The rest are Ifeanyi Matthew of Kano Pillars, Frederick Obomate of Rivers United and Charles Henlong of Kano Pillars.
Those listed for the wings include Heartland’s Emeka Ogbuh, Sikiru Olatubosun of MFM FC, Chisom Egbuchulam of Rangers and Ezekiel Bassey of Enyimba.
The others are Shadrach Oghali of Warri Wolves, Bashir Abdulrahman of Nasarawa United and Bata Mohammed of El-Kanemi Warriors.
Completing the list are the outfield forwards, made up of Wikki Tourists’ Godwin Obaje, FC IfeanyiUbah’s Ismaila Gata and Anthony Okpotu of Lobi Stars.
The other forwards are Ibrahim Mustapha of El- Kanemi Warriors, Abiye Moses of Ikorodu United and Stephen Odey of MFM FC.
A letter signed by Salihu Abubakar, LMC’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), informed the invited players to report for the first phase of camping which will open on Monday.
The letter said the players, during the period of camping which will end on July 18, would be released to play for their clubs in NPFL and Federation Cup fixtures.
The second and final phase of the camping will open on Aug. 1, leading to the team’s departure on Aug. 8.
According to the LMC, the squad was selected by a poll of coaches of teams in the NPFL, carried out to pick players for the different positions.
The NPFL All-Stars team will, while in Spain, play a pre-season friendly with Valencia CF.
It will also participate in the annual Carranza La Liga World Club Tournament, in which they will play against Malaga CF on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13.(NAN)
