Rabiu, Obaje, Okpotu top NPFL-LaLiga Tour list
Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali, Joint leading scorer of the Nigeria league Godwin Obaje and Lobi Stars FC attacking pearl Anthony Okpotu are among the 35 players called to camp in preparation for the first Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) All Stars squad for the NPFL-LaLiga Tour coming up in August.
The list released by the League Management Company (LMC) will further be reduced to a final 22-man squad that will make the August trip.
The list is made up of four goalkeepers, eight defenders, three defensive midfielders, seven central midfielders, seven wingers and center forwards.
The Goalkeepers are Emeka Nwabulu of El-Kanemi Warriors, Enyimba’s Theophilus Afelokhai, Ikechukwu Ezenwa who recently joined FC IfeanyiUbah from Sunshine Stars and Okiemute Odah of Lobi Stars.
ýRangers’ Matthew Etim, Ifeanyi Nweke of MFM, Chima Akas Enyimba, Gabriel Wassa of Niger Tornadoes and Enyimba’s captain, Chine Udoji are some of the defenders. The others are Austin Obaroakpo of Abia Warriors, Kano Pillars’ Jamiu Alimi and Emmanuel Ariwa of Akwa United. six
Shortlisted for the defensive midfield roles are former U-20 Star, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi of MFM, Dare Ojo of Enyimba and Dayo Ojo of Sunshine Stars.
The Central Midfielders are Obinna Nwobodo of Rangers International, Otun Fawaz of Shooting Stars, Kano Pillars’ Rabiu Ali, Ibrahim Alhassan of Wikki Tourists, Ifeanyi Matthew of Kano Pillars, Frederick Obomate of Rivers United and Charles Henlong of Kano Pillars.
Listed for the wings are Heartland’s Emeka Ogbuh, Sikiru Olatubosun of MFM, Chisom Egbuchulam of Rangers, Ezekiel Bassey of Enyimba International, 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, Anthony Okpotu of Lobi Stars, Ibrahim Mustapha of El- Kanemi Warriors, Abiye Moses of Ikorodu United and Stephen Odey of MFM.
A letter signed by Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC directed the invited players to report for the first phase of camping that will open on July 11 and end on the 18th.