Nigerian soccer fans are in for a pleasant surprise in the second quarter of next year, as the initial squad list for the Africa Cup of Nations may roll out in April, footballlive.ng can report.
Although the competition is slated for the summer in Cameroon, as against early in the year as had been the case with previous editions, Nigeria’s squad list will roll three months before kick-off.
This is the promise of Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr who said Tuesday that he will announce the provisional roster for AFCON 20189 sometime in April.
Rohr pointed out that there is just one FIFA window for international matches prior to next year’s AFCON, hence the need to move ahead of time and his decision to start preparations immediately.
The Franco-German gaffer said: ”We only have one FIFA window in March and I have to give my list in April/May. First list in May, thirty-five and then the final twenty-three.
”So, I want to see the players who I didn’t see so much. They have the opportunity to start this preparation and the (Asaba) match is the first preparation match for the AFCON.”