Super Eagles’ World Cup squad: Kano Pillar’s wonderboy, Lokosa, makes Coach, Gernot Rohr's 30-man preliminary squad

Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has included Kano Pillars’s Junior Lokosa and Crotone’s Simeon Nwankwo in his 30-man preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup.

Lokosa has been in terrific form in the Nigeria Professional Football League scoring 18 goals in 20 matches – including a brace against Katsina United on Sunday.

26-year-old Nwankwo gets his maiden international call-up thanks to his fine form in the Italian topflight where he has scored six goals in his last seven outings.

The Super Eagles are heading to their sixth World Cup, having taken part in the 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 editions – with a place in the Round of 16 their best performance ever.

Rohr is expected to meet with his technical committee to deliberate on the list and other issues when the team comes together in Abuja on May 22, before playing DR Congo in a farewell match on May 28.

GOALKEEPERS: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba) Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United) Francis Uzoho (Deportivo de La Coruna) Dele Ajiboye (Plateau United)

DEFENDERS: William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor) Leon Balogun (Mainz 05) Olaoluwa Aina (Chelsea) Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa) Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm) Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes) Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor) Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge) Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag) Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv)

MIDFIELDERS: John Obi Mikel (Tianjin Teda) Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor) John Ogu (Hapoel Beer Sheva) Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) Uche Agbo (Standard Liege) Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas) Joel Obi (Torino) Mikel Agu (Bursaspor)

FORWARDS: Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai) Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow) Victor Moses (Chelsea) Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) Moses Simon (Gent) Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars) Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone)

Nigeria will clash with England on June 2 at Wembley before their final warm-up match against Czech Republic on June 10, 2018.

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