Less than 24 hours before FIFA’s deadline for teams that qualified for the 2014 World Cup to name their squad expires, Nigeria’s Group F opponents, Iran have named their final 23 man squad for the tournament that kicks-off on June 12 in Brazil.
The Persian Army, as Iran are popularly called by their fans, will do battle for a slot in the second round in a group that has South American giants Argentina, Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina who are making their debut.
Iran will be led to the Mundial by coach Carlos Queiroz of Portugal.
* Iran national football team
Ashkan Dejagah, who played for relegated Fulham Football club last season has been included in the squad alongside German -born Iranian goalkeeper Daniel Davari from Eintracht Braunschweig.
Veteran midfielder Javad Nekounam is also made the cut while youngster Reza Ghoochannejhad from Charlton Athletic in England will also be part of the party to Brazil.
Below is the full squad of Iran:
Goalkeepers:
Daniel Davari, Alireza Haghighi, Rahman Ahmadi
Defenders:
Hossein Mahini, Steven Beitashour, Pejman Montazeri, Jalal Hosseini, Amir-Hossein Sadeghi, Ahmad Alenemeh, Hashem Beikzadeh, Mehrdad Pouladi
Midfielders:
Javad Nekounam, Ghasem Hadadifar, Bakhtiar Rahmani, Ehsan Hajsafi, Andranik Teymourian, Reza Haghighi,
Strikers:
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Ashkan Dejagah, Masoud Shojaei, Karim Ansarifard, Khosro Heydari.
Iran will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their first Group F game in Curitiba on June 16 followed by Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last group match.
Coach Stephen Keshi of Nigeria is expected to name Super Eagles’ 23-man squad today.
The Nigerian team are currently camping in Philadelphia, USA where they would play Greece on Tuesday and the American national team on Saturday before they depart to Brazil.
The Super Eagles play out a 2-2 draw against Scotland in the last friendly match played in London, England last Tuesday
Let wait and see waht their squad will produced.