Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has released his list of 25 players for the 2024 African Cup of Nations starting January 10 in Cote d’ Ivoire.
Top of the list and expectedly, are in form Nigerian striking duo Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface who is making his AFCON debut. Osimhen was ruled out in the 2022 tournament by injury and his presence was felt as the Super Eagles struggled to score goals in Cameroon.
Super Eagles fans are hopeful that Osimhen and Boniface will provide the much needed firepower that will propel the team beyond the dismal round of 16, the team posted in the 2022 tournament.
Also on the list are Musa Ahmed and Kenneth Omeruo who are the only surviving members of the squad that won the title in 2013. Musa Ahmed was left out of the Super Eagles World Cup qualifying games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
In the goalkeeping division Peseiro is keeping faith with Francis Uzoho who has South African side Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabili and Ojo Olorunleke to contest with for the number position.
All the 25 players will depart from their different bases on Tuesday, January 2 to fly into Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, for a one-week training camp that will last until Tuesday, January 9. The team will fly back to Lagos on Tuesday 9th January, and then fly into the Ivorian capital, Abidjan on Wednesday, January 10.
The Super Eagles, in their quest for a fourth continental title, will take on Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 14 in their first match of Group A, before further clashes with host nation Cote d’Ivoire (January 18) and Guinea Bissau (January 22).
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)
