NPFL release names of 30 Nigeria League players to play Spanish La Liga clubs Valencia and Malaga in a friendly in Spain in August

The league management company (LMC) has released the names of players expected to play two La Liga club sides as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and partnership signed between Nigeria Professional football league and Spanish La Liga.

The 32 man squad made up of purely Nigeria Professional football league players will play against Valencia and Malaga in August in a match that will be live on Television. It will also afford the players an opportunity to be watched by scouts.

Top on the list is Nigeria League leading goal scorer Godwin Obaje of Wikki Tourists, Enyimba FC of Aba Goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai and Rivers United mercurial midfielder Fredrick Obomate and Lobi Stars of Markudi hitman Tony Okpotu.

The 32 players are expected to report to training camp next Monday in Abuja.The players will then be trimmed down to a final list of 22 players in readiness for the friendly match which comes up in August. 

Read also: LA LIGA and LMC signs 5 years partnership deal

The team will be coached by Salisu Yusuf who is presently Super Eagles caretaker coach. And he will be assisted by Imama Amapakabo who is the coach of Rangers and Wikki Tourist coach Abdu Maikaba

You will recall that the LMC and La Liga signed a 5 years deal early this year that will see La Liga help in marketing and promoting the Nigeria league.

The players are; 

GOALKEEPERS:
Emeka Nwabulu (Wikki Tourists), Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Ifeanyiubah) Okiemute Odah (Lobi Stars)

DEFENDERS
Mathew Etim (Rangers), Ifeanyi Nweke (Nasarawa United), Chima Akas (Enyimba),
Gabriel Wassa (Niger Tornadoes), Emmanuel Ariwa (Akwa United), Austin Obaroakpo (Abia Warriors), Chinedu Udoji (Enyimba), Jamiu Alimi

MIDFIELDERS:
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (MFM), Dare Ojo (Enyimba), Dayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars), Obinna Nwobodo
(Rangers), Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars), Charles Henlong (Kano Pillars), Ifeanyi Mathew (Kano
Pillars), Fredrick Obomate (Rivers United), Alhassan Ibrahim (Wikki Tourists)

ATTACKERS:
Emeka Ogbugh (Heartland), Sikiru Olatunbosun (MFM), Chisom Egbuchulam (Rangers), Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba), Shedrack Oghali (Warri Wolves), Abdulrahman Bashir (Nasarawa
United), Hussein Bata Muhammed (El-Kanemi), Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists), Ismaila Gata (Ifeanyiubah), Tony Okpotu (Lobi Stars), Ibrahim Mustapha (El-Kanemi), Moses Ebiye (Ikorodu United).

Coaches: Salisu Yusuf, Imama, Maikaba.