Afcon 2023: Jose Peseiro explains criteria for selecting final 25 players

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, Jose Peseiro has revealed the criteria adopted in selecting the list of 25 players for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Peseiro settled for usual suspects in a roster that has three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and eight forwards.

The Super Eagles, in their quest for a fourth continental title, will take on Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, 14th January in their first match of Group A, before further clashes with host nation Cote d’Ivoire (18th January) and Guinea Bissau (22nd January).

Peseiro is hopeful that the team perform well at the tournament slated to kick off on January 13, 2024.

“I believe 25 players are enough as NFF approved the invitation of that number,” Peseiro told NFFTV.

“From a list of 41 players, we reduced the number to 25. The selected players have worked with us.

“We looked at their performances. Some players play well for their clubs more than the national team. Others play better for the national team more than their clubs.”

All the 25 players will depart from their different bases on Tuesday, 2nd January to fly into Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, for a one-week training camp that will last until Tuesday, 9th January.

“The current form of the players was also put into consideration,” he continued.

“If they played well and showed good conditions. It wasn’t easy choosing the final 25 players. Initially, we had a big list of 72 players.

“Apart from playing, some players can create good spirits even if they don’t start games. After making the selection, I wish they play well for us.”

The team will fly back to Lagos on Tuesday 9th January, and then fly into the Ivorian capital, Abidjan on Wednesday, 10th January.