AFCON 2023: Jose Peseiro names Nigeria squad

 The Super Eagles of Nigeria coach, Jose Peseiro has named his 25-man-squad to represent the country at the Africa Cup of Nations slated for Ivory Coast next year.

Initially there were indications the Portuguese manager wanted to name a 25 man squad while the Nigeria Football Federation wanted 27 but finally settled on the former.

The squad consists of a formidable attacking quality in-depth.

Victor Osimhen who only won the CAF Best Player Award earlier this month is the top name in the squad.

The Napoli man helped the Diego Maradona outfit to win the Seria in 33 years as he became the first African player to win the Capocannoneire last season.

Bundesliga breakthrough forward Victor Boniface who made a move from Union St Gilloise to Bayern Leverkusen this season add up to the frontliners alongside 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup best player Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City.

Together with Sadiq Umar of Real Sociedad, Moses Simon of Nantes, Ademola Lookman of Atalanta, Nigeria boasts one of the best attack heading to the AFCON next month. 

Experienced defender William Troost Ekong made the cut alongside 2013 AFCON winner Kenneth Omeruo as the experience players at the backline.

With Zaidu Sanusi of FC Porto and Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest, the Super Eagles have a strong presence at the backline.

In as much as the Super Eagles have a problem with goalkeeping, Francis Uzoho still maintained his presence in the set up along side two goalkeepers who ply their trade on the continent. 

The three-times Champions witnessed a disappointing outing in Cameroon when they were booted out by covid stricken Tunisia in the Round of 16 going down by 10 men after been the best team in the group stages.

The Super Eagles are paired in a Group A with hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.

They play their first game against Equatorial Guinea on 14th January, four days later against hosts Ivory Coast all at Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan before their last game against Guinea Bissau at Houphoet Boigny Stadium on 22nd January.

Here is the full squad;

GOALKEEPERS

Francis Uzoho(Omonia Nicosia/Cyprus), Stanley Nwabili(Chippa Utd/South Africa), Ojo Olurunleke(Enyimba/Nigeria)

DEFENDERS 

William Troost Ekong(PAOK Thessaloniki/Greece), Bright Osayi Samuel(Fenerbache/Turkey), Ola Aina(Nottingham Forest/England) Semi Ajayi(Westbrom/England), Kenneth Omeruo(Kasimpasa/Turkey), Zaidu Sanusi(FC Porto), Bruno Onyemaechi(Boavista/Portugal), (Chidozie Awaziem/Portugal), Calvin Bassey(Fulham/England)

MIDFIELDERS

Winifred Ndidi(Leicester City/England), Rafael Onyedika(Club Brugge/Belgium), Joe Arribo(Southampton/England), Frank Onyeka(Brentford/England), Alex Iwobi(Fulham/England)

FORWARDS

Kelechi Iheanacho(Leicester City/England), Samuel Chukwueze(AC Milan/Italy), Victor Osimhen(Napoli/Italy), Victor Boniface(Bayern Leverkusen/Germany), Ademola Lookman(Atalanta/Italy), Simon Moses(Nantes/France), Umar Sadiq(Real Sociedad/Spain), Ahmed Musa(Sivasspor/Turkey)

Story by: Mohammed Awal Hudu (Kessben FM/TV)