Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has unveiled a team of 25 players for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote’d’Ivoire.
Mr Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), disclosed this in a statement on Friday, December 29, 2023.
The tournament will be held from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
The statement reads, “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.
“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,” it said.
The statement also said 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 Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen.
It said other forwards included; Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman.
It added that all the 25 players would depart from their different bases on Tuesday to fly into Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, for a one-week training camp.
It noted that the training camp would last until Jan. 9, 2024.
“The team will fly back to Lagos on Jan. 9, and then fly into the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, on Jan. 10,” it said.
See full list of all invited players below:
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).