The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation has released a 42-man provisional squad ahead of the upcoming Heritage Cup showdown with Ghana, confirming plans to field a fully home-based Stallions XV for the November 29 clash in Accra.
The highly anticipated fixture — tagged a grudge match between two fierce West African rivals — will be held at the University of Ghana Rugby Stadium.
The squad will open camp on November 22 in Lagos, with players instructed to report to Ojez Hotel, Jones Street, Ebutte Metta.
According to the federation, the provisional list draws talent from top domestic clubs including Cowrie, Racing, Barewa, Delta, Edo State, Zaria, Kwara Dynamite, Nigeria Police, AJ Sharks and Plateau Tigers, alongside two players whose club details were not disclosed.
Forwards named in the squad include:
Quadri Kolawole (Cowrie), Julius Godwin (Racing), Iyintosoluwa Kolawole (Racing), Olatunde Sulaiman (Cowrie), Obi Wilson (Barewa), Emmanuel Agu (Barewa), Jude Abrakson (Barewa), Chukwudera Onunkwo (Racing), Nelson Eselekhomwen (Edo State), Adebayo Tobi (Racing), Chidozie Nwabunwanne (Cowrie), Cornelius Arebamhen, Friday Solomon (Delta), Akeem Yusuf (Cowrie), Akinkunmi Akande (AJ Sharks), Liberty Enoma (Delta State) and Williams Malu (Nigeria Police).
Backs listed are:
Isa Omale (Barewa), Oseni Fawaz (AJ Sharks), Ibrahim Jeje (Kwara Dynamite), Jeremiah Peter (Barewa), Adamu Husaini (Zazzau Rugby), Innocent Peter (Delta State), Joshua Rankin (Cowrie), Christian Williams (Barewa), Joseph Junior Girigi (Kwara Dynamite), Ezekiel Tom (AJ Sharks), Joshua Etim (Barewa), Sadam Abubakar (Nigeria Police), Benedict Obianuju (Delta Marine), Festus Omorodion (Edo State), Iliyasu Musa (Zaria), Stephen Suru Kiki (AJ Sharks), Daniel John (Cowrie), Prince Sam (Barewa), Gabriel Etim (Barewa), Samuel Akpabio (Barewa), Monday Omorogieva (Racing), Aliyu Auwal (Edo State), Simpson Daniel (Barewa), Chidera Iheme (Plateau Tigers) and Onoru Jatto.
The NRFF noted on Thursday that the squad will be cut down to a final travelling group of 24 players for the trip to Accra, where Nigeria will seek a commanding display in one of West Africa’s fiercest and oldest rugby rivalries.