C.D. Leganés players Kenneth Omeruo, Gaku Shibasaki and Yoel Bárcenas have been selected for their national sides in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers. The pepineros will play for Nigeria, Japan and Panama respectively.
All three players have already joined the national squad training camps ahead of the tournament qualifiers. Gaku joins the the Japanese in their final round of qualifiers, where they will aim for a top two finish in order to secure their ticket to Qatar. Their first fixture sees them play host to Oman on Thursday 2nd September 12:14 CEST before they travel to Doha to play China on Tuesday 7th September at 12:00.
Japan, Nigeria and Panama look to get their world cup campaigns off to a flying start
Omeruo similarly unites with the Nigerian squad as they commence their next qualifying phase. The Super Eagles will be aiming for a top spot finish to send them into a play-off final in Lagos against Liberia on Friday 3rd September 18:00 and then Cape Verde in Mindelo on Tuesday 7th September at 18:00.
Panama participate in the CONCACAF, where Bárcenas will be helping his home country acheive the required top three placement for a direct qualification, or fourth place to advance to another qualifying round. They have their first game at home to Costa Rica in the early hours of Friday 3rd September at 03:05 before travelling to Jamaica for a 00:00 kickoff on Monday 6th September and then finally back playing on home territory against the highest FIFA ranked team of the competition, Mexico, at 03:05 Thursday 9th September.
All three players will be absent from the clash on Saturday at Ipurua
As such, the three squad members will not be included in the lineup for the fourth matchday of the season against S.D. Eibar on Saturday 4th September 16:00. But they will return in time for the fitfh fixture of the campaign against Real Sporting Friday 10th September 21:00.
