Against all odds, Golden Eaglets’ star goalkeeper Dele Alampasu has broken into the senior national football team, the Super Eagles, at first attempt. He is in the 23-man team unveiled yesterday in Abuja by Nigeria’s Head Coach Stephen Keshi for the third edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) holding Jan. 11 to Feb. 1, 2014 in South Africa.

News Express recalls that Alampasu was invited to the camp alongside two other key members of the Eaglets squad that won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for Nigeria last October in the United Arab Emirates. While that tournament’s best player, Kelechi Iheanacho, quit camp to pursue a professional contract in Europe, Taiwo Awoniyi could not make the cut.

Nigeria, which is debuting in the CHAN – a championship reserved for senior players plying their trade in the domestic league of their countries – face hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in Group A of the 2014 CHAN.

Below is the full list of players selected by Keshi as contained in a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN):

Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Rangers International); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC); Dele Alampasu (Abuja Football College).

Defenders: Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Francis Benjamin (Heartland FC); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars); Ikechukwu Gabriel (Bayelsa United); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars); Bright Esieme (Enyimba International); Erhun Obanor (Bendel Insurance FC).

Midfielders: Ugonna Uzochukwu (Rangers); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC); Ikenna Hilary (Sunshine Stars); Abdullahi Shehu (Kano Pillars); Joshua Obaje (Warri Wolves).

Forwards: Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers); Gbolahan Salami (Shooting Stars); Barnabas Imenger (Lobi Stars); Aliyu Ibrahim (Nasarawa United); Christian Obiozor (Rangers); Ifeanyi Ede (Enyimba International).

•Photo shows Alampasu.

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