Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro on Friday announced his final 25-man squad list for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast.
The Portuguese manager has called upon the likes of reigning African Player of the Year Victor Oismhen, Bayer Leverkusen hotshot Victor Boniface, Turkey-based Ahmed Musa and Leicester City midfielder Wilfried Ndidi as Nigeria go in search of a fourth AFCON title.
Peseiro’s list, which consists of three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and eight forwards, includes a number of surprises, with only one home-based player making the cut despite huge outcries from fans and football experts in the country calling for a mix of both the local players and the foreign-based stars.
The 25 ready to give their all, ready to do it again! #SoarSuperEagles #LetsDoItAgain #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/e5eCGyJyCs
— ???????? Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) December 29, 2023
In the goalkeeping position, the 63-year-old selected South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili alongside Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo and the controversial Francis Uzoho, whose inclusion will definitely cause a number of debates amongst the Nigerian audience.
In defence, the experience of Kenneth Omeruo, who was part of the triumphant Super Eagles team in 2013, has been called upon, as well as vice-captain Wiliam Troost-Ekong, to lead the backline. FC Porto fullback Zaidu Sanusi makes a return to the team having regained fitness, while Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, and Ola Aina are some of the other names in the squad.
In the midfield, usual suspects like Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, and Joe Aribo made the team, with Ndidi also back in the side after missing the World Cup qualifiers due to injury.
The front line, which is Nigeria’s biggest weapon, features Napoli marksman Osimhen, Boniface, who will be hoping to make his AFCON debut, Real Sociedad towering forward Sadiq Umar, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon. Team captain Ahmed Musa also makes the cut, having missed Nigeria’s last few games.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation, all 25 selected players are expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, for a one-week training camp that will last until Tuesday, January 9.
Following the conclusion of the camp, the team is expected to fly back to Lagos before jetting out to Abidjan, the capital city of Ivory Coast, on Wednesday, January 10.
The Super Eagles, participating in their 20th AFCON, are drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and West African neighbors Guinea-Bissau. They will begin their glory hunt on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea, before facing the elephants four days later, and finally the Djurtus on January 22.
FULL SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC); William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad); Moses Simon (FC Nantes); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)
