Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, has announced a team of 25 players for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote’d’Ivoire.
This was made known via a statement issued by the Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, on Friday, December 29, 2023.
Olajire noted that Peseiro settled for usual suspects in a roster that has three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and eight forwards.
The tournament will be held from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
Olajire stated: “Captain Ahmed Musa returns to the squad after he was left out of the starting games to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series, while South Africa-based goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili, is picked alongside Francis Uzoho and Olorunleke Ojo.
“2009 U17 World Cup star, Kenneth Omeruo, (the only other candidate in the team, apart from Musa who was in Nigeria’s 2013 squad that triumphed in South Africa), leads the defenceline.
“Omeruo is paired alongside William Ekong, as well as Olaoluwa Aina, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Chidozie Awaziem, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi.
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“Wilfred Ndidi is also back after missing the World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
“He will be expected to adequately feed the strike-force alongside Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Joe Ayodele-Aribo, and Frank Onyeka.”
He noted that Musa, Nigeria’s record goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup finals with a brace each in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018, was in the forward-line alongside African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen.
He said all the 25 players would depart from their different bases on Tuesday to fly into Abu Dhabi, the capital United Arab Emirates (UAE), for a one-week training camp.
Olajire noted that the training camp would last until Jan. 9, 2024, adding that the team will fly back to Lagos on January 9, and then fly into the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, on January 10,
The Super Eagles, in their quest for a fourth continental title, will take on Equatorial Guinea on January 14, 2004, in their first match of Group A.
This is before further clashes with host nation Cote d’Ivoire on January 18 and Guinea Bissau on January 22.
Nigeria, who will be participating in the AFCON for the 20th time, were champions as hosts in 1980, triumphant in Tunisia in 1994, and crowned winners in South Africa in 2013.
See the full list of all invited players below:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); and Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC).
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika, Greece); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); and Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); and Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); and Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany).
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