Nigeria announce final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad of 25 players

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria announced their final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad on Friday ahead of the international friendly in Abu Dhabi.

There not much surprises in the squad as Jose Peseiro kept faith with many of the players that played in the country’s recent Afcon and World Cup qualifier engagements.

However, notably missing from the squad are goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, and Tyronne Ebuehi, Jamilu Collins and Jordan Torunarigha in defence, while Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Alhassan Yusuf plus Kelechi Nwakali in midfield.

Peseiro’s squad consists of just one players based in the Nigeria Premier Football League, the trend of stopping locally based players from having sense of belonging in the national side, with the remaining players based abroad.

The three-time African champions gaffer included three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and eight forwards.

Nigeria’s most capped player and captain, Ahmed Musa, who is also the nation’s top goal scorer in the FIFA World Cup as well as defender Kenneth Omeruo are the only members of the 2013 Afcon winning squad on the roster.

Goalkeepers, Francis Uzoho, South African-based Stanley Nwabali, and the only home-based player in the squad, Enyimba’s save hands, Olorunleke Ojo made the cut.

In defensive positions, are Omeruo, William Troost Ekong, and Ola Aina, whileWilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Joe Aribo, Frank Onyeka, and African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen headlined the final roster.

A training camp in Abu Dhabi from January 2, 2024, has been scheduled for the team before heading to Cote D’Ivoire to face Equatorial Guinea, Cote D’Ivoire to, and Guinea Bissau in Group A.

After winning the title in 1980, 1994, and 2013, the Super Eagles will aim to win their fourth title with the mantra “Let’s do it again” in Ivory Coast.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); 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); 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); 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); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)