Nigerian coach Salisu Yusuf has named a 30-man provisional list for the first phase of preparations leading to the 2018 African Nations Championship in Morocco.

The home-based Super Eagles squad today arrived in Kano state for the annual Super Six Tournament against the country's top domestic clubs.

Super Eagles team A goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa tops the list of the invited players, along with defenders Stephen Eze, Osas Okoro and Daniel Itodo.

Others are midfielders Afeez Aremu, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Rabiu Aliu and strikers Sikiru Olatunbosun, Peter Eneji and Anthony Okpotu.

The Eagles B team will contend with NPFL champions Plateau United, MFM FC, Akwa United, Kano Pillars and Enyimba FC for the Super Six crown; as players will battle to make the final list.

Nigeria faces 2014 winners Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea in the preliminary round of the fifth edition of CHAN, with matches of Group C scheduled to take place in Tangier.

Libya beat Ghana in the final of the 2014 tournament in South Africa despite the north Africa nation embroiled in a political turmoil during the time.

Rwanda qualified for the finals after they beat Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate in a play-off following Egypt's withdrawal due to timing clash with their local league, while Equatorial Guinea book their spot in showpiece after Gabon pulled out.

Hosts Morocco will begin their campaign against Mauritania in Group A on January 13 at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca before taking on Guinea and Sudan.

Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia, Uganda and Namibia are drawn in Group B that will be based in Marrakech; while Group D has Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso in Agadir.

List of invited players:

 Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa; Dele Ajiboye; Theophilus Afelokhai

Defenders: Stephen Eze; Osas Okoro; Daniel Itodo; Adeleye Olamilekan; Kalu Orji Okogbue; Ifeanyi Nweke; Nasiru Sani; Timothy Danladi

Midfielders: Afeez Aremu; Raphael Ayagwa; Ifeanyi Ifeanyi; Rabiu Ali; Destiny Ashadi; Dayo Ojo; Emeka Atuloma; Douglas Achiv; Austine Oladapo; Abdulkadir Zango

Forwards: Sikiru Olatubosun; Kingsley Eduwo; Peter Eneji; Anthony Okpotu; Joseph Osadiaye; Sunday Faleye; Victor Mbaoma; Mustapha Ibrahim; Gabriel Okechukwu


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