AFCON qualifiers: Peseiro lists 4 home-based players for Sierra Leone game

Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has invited four home-based players alongside 19 foreign-based others to camp for next weekend’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Sierra Leone.

The Super Eagles will take on the Leone Stars in an AFCON Group A qualifier on June 18 in Monrovia.

The Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, in a statement on Friday, June 9, said forward Victor Osimhen topped the list of strikers called up.

Osimhen scored 31 goals in all competitions for Napoli this season to help the Italian side to their first Serie A title in 33 years.

He was recently honoured with a National Award as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Federal Government.

Osimhen also received a special ball and jersey from world football-ruling body FIFA for his magnificent season.

The four home-based players invited are goalkeepers Victor Sochima of Rivers United; Olorunleke Ojo of Enyimba International; Rivers United defender, Ebube Duru; and Bendel Insurance midfielder, Divine Nwachukwu.

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Goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, defender William Ekong, midfielder Alex Iwobi, and forward Moses Simon are among others invited for the qualifying match.

The Super Eagles are top in their qualification group with nine points from four matches, followed by Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs who have seven points.

Leone Stars, who gave the Eagles a tough run in Abuja on Day One of the qualification series before succumbing 2-1, are on five points.

Sao Tome and Principe, who play the Super Eagles on the final day of the series in September, are bottom with only one point.

Nigeria and Sierra Leone will clash at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia from 5 p.m. on June 18.

Sierra Leone are hosting their matches now in Liberia as they do not have any stadium approved for international matches.

See all the invited players below:

Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United); and Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC).

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, UK); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); and Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United).

Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, UK); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); and Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, UK); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, UK); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, UK); and Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, UK)

Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, UK); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, UK); and Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey).

The Star