Jose Peseiro, Super Eagles head coach, has revealed the 25-player squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong are among the notable inclusions, with both players returning to the national team after a hiatus.
Earlier this month, the Portuguese coach had released a 40-player provisional squad for the tournament. Notable players listed in the initial squad but omitted from the final team include Terem Moffi, Paul Onuachu, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, and Emmanuel Dennis.
Ojo Olorunleke of Enyimba is the only home-based player in the squad, with Amas Obasogie and Christian Nwoke missing the cut.
The squad comprises three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and eight forwards.
Newly crowned African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, is included along with Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze.
The Super Eagles will have a one-week training camp in Abu Dhabi, UAE, before heading to Ivory Coast on January 10, 2024.
Nigeria is placed in Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau for the AFCON group stage.
Nigeria will take on Equatorial Guinea in their opening game before facing Ivory Coast and rounding off the group stage with the Guinea-Bissau tie.
The absence of Moffi, Onuachu, and other notable players is expected to spark discussions among football enthusiasts, but Peseiro and the coaching staff have made their decisions in preparation for the continental competition. The Super Eagles aim to perform well in Group A and progress further in the AFCON tournament.
Musa has not played for the Super Eagles since the game against Guinea-Bissau in March 2023, while Ekong’s last match was against Portugal in November 2022. However, both players will feature for the team at the 34th AFCON scheduled to hold in Ivory Coast.
See Full List Of 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)
