Early in August, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced that German coach Gernot Rohr has signed a two year contract that will see the former Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso coach work as Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles.

Being new to the country’s footballing world, Rohr is saddled with a huge task of qualifying Nigeria for the Russia 2018 World Cup. While the German may be familiar with the country’s players who play internationally in leagues around the world, it may be all to easy for him to forget the home based players.

However, it will be a huge mistake to forget players in the domestic league.

Here are some player from the NPFL, who will surely make a difference if included in the Super Eagles team.

 

Chinedu Udoji

Udoji is Enyimba FC’s captain and plays as a central defender. The 26-year-old has led Enyimba to the Nigeria Premier League title in 2014/2015 season and helped the club to the CAF Champions League where they finished third in their group and missed out on the semifinals. He was part of the NPFL All-Star team to the 2016 LA Liga Carranza tournament in Spain. Udoji has received a couple of invitations to the national team under former Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, but has yet to play a match for the national team.

Solomon Kwambe

A regular face in the Eagles, Kwambe plays currently for Lobi Stars of Makurdi. The 23-year-old plays as a central defender but has often been deployed as a right-back. The former Sunshine Stars defender was a member of the team to the 2014 African Nations Championship, where the Eagles finished third. He got his first cap for the Eagles under Keshi and has racked up 37 caps for the team since 2012, when he first played in a friendly match against Niger Republic.

Chima Akas

Enyimba left-back, Akas, is also not a new face in the national team. He was the captain of the home-based Eagles to the 2016 African Nations Championships, where former coach Sunday Oliseh led Nigeria to a group stage exit. He also captained the NPFL All-Stars team to the Carranza tournament in Spain.

Etim Mathew

Enugu Rangers Matthew has been a super regular for the league leaders and the central defender is a major reason why the club have conceded just 34 goals in 32 games. He earned a first call-up to the national team in October 2015 under Oliseh for the 2016 CHAN qualifier against Burkina Faso after an injury to Kwambe. He was a member of the Eagles team to the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda.

Jamiu Alimi

Kano Pillars defender, Alimi, was in the Eagles team which defeated Tanzania 1-0 on September 3. He was also a part of the Rwanda 2016 CHAN team. The former Shooting Stars defender plays in the central role and was also in the NPFL All-Star team to the Carranza tournament in Spain.

 

Dare Ojo

Yet to be called to the national team, Enyimba midfielder, Ojo, is a defensive midfielder who packs power in his shots and provides a good cover for the defenders. One of his shots grabbed the consolation for Enyimba in their 2-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in Saouth Africa in one of the group matches of the 2016 CAF Champions League.

Ifeanyi Ifeanyi

MFM may be struggling to avoid relegation from the NPFL but former Flying Eagles midfielder, Ifeanyi, has been an integral part of the team. He was a member of the NPFL All-Star to the Carranza tournament. He has yet to get a call-up to the Eagles.

Dayo Ojo

Sunshine Stars’ Ojo is another member of the All-Stars team to the Spain Carranza tournament. The 21-year-old is a skillful player who has been impressive for the Akure club this season. He played for the national U-17 team in 2010 and was also invited to the national U-20 team.

Daniel Etor

Former Akwa United midfielder, Etor, has been with Enyimba since 2013. Although he hasn’t been capped at senior level, the attacking midfielder has been a regular with the national U-23 team. He played at the 2015 All Africa Games and also the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal. He was first called up to the Eagles in 2012.

Bartholomew Ibenegbu

An attacking midfielder with speed and skills, Ibenegbu has been amazing at Enyimba this season since joining from Warri Wolves. The 30-year-old is a regular in the national beach soccer team, the Sand Eagles. He was also a member of the Eagles squad to the 2016 CHAN.

Rabiu Ali

Kano Pillars’ long serving midfielder, Ali, was a member of the NPFL All-Star team to the Carranza tournament in Spain. He has been a member of the home-based Eagles since 2013. He was at the 2014 CHAN where he shone along with former Enugu Rangers forward, Ejike Uzoenyi. He has scored 10 goals as Pillars push for a continental finish.

Bassey Ezekiel

Enyimba attacking midfielder, Bassey, was a part of the Eagles team to the 2016 CHAN. He joined Enyimba from Akwa United in 2015 and has been instrumental to the team’s campaign in the CAF Champions League, where they exited in the group stages.

Osas Okoro

Okoro is an attacking midfielder with Enugu Rangers, who featured for Nigeria at the 2016 CHAN. He has previously played at Bayelsa United and Heartland. He has helped Rangers in their title push this season.

 

Godwin Obaje

With 18 goals and still counting – the latest of which was in Wikki Tourists’ 2-1 loss at Enyimba on Wednesday – Obaje is the current highest goal scorer in the NPFL. He has a peculiar eye for goal and is one of the reasons why Wikki believe they can win the league this season. He is also a part of the NPFL All-Star team and has yet to be called up to the Eagles. He is the younger brother of Joshua Obaje, who was a part of the Eagles team to the 2014 CHAN.

Ismaila Gata

After joining FC IfeanyiUbah from Niger Tornadoes, Gata has scored three goals for the Nnewi-based club. He has 12 goals in the NPFL this season, nine of which he scored for Tornadoes. He has yet to be called to the national team but was a part of the NPFL All-Star team to the Carranza tournament.

Dele Olorundare

Sunshine Stars’ Olorundare has scored nine goals for the Akure club this season as they push for a continental finish. The striker has been an integral part of the team’s resurgence since current coach, Solomon Ogbeide, took charge of the team. In the team’s attack, he is usually partnered with Okiki Afolabi, who was the club’s leading scorer with 13 goals before joining Argentine side Athletico Cordoba earlier this month. He has yet to be called to the national team.

Chisom Egbuchulam

Rangers are currently sitting on top of the NPFL table and Egbuchulam has been responsible for 11 of the goals they have scored this season. He has yet to earn a national team call-up but he was also a member of the All-Star team of the NPFL to the Carranza tournament in Spain.

Anthony Okpotu

Lobi Stars forward Okpotu has scored 12 goals this season. The former Al Ittihad of Libya forward is very experienced and boasts speed and goal-scoring instincts. He was called-up to the national U-20 team under former coach Manu Garba in 2014.