Three-time African champions, Nigeria have announced a team of 25 players for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Cote d’Ivoire next month.
Coach Jose Peseiro named a roster that has three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards.
Captain and Nigeria’s most capped player, Ahmed Musa, makes a grand return to the squad while South Africa-based goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili, will battle with Francis Uzoho and Olorunleke Ojo for the number one spot.
2013 AFCON winner, Kenneth Omeruo leads the defence line alongside William Troost-Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Chidozie Awaziem, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi.
Leicester midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi will also battle for the starting lineup alongside Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Joe Ayodele-Aribo and Frank Onyeka.
Musa, Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman are the frontmen for the Eagles who are targeting a fourth AFCON title in Cote d’Ivoire.
All players are expected to depart their base on Tuesday, 2nd January to fly into Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, for a one-week training camp that will last until Tuesday, 9th January.
According to a release by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Communication Department, the team will fly back to Lagos on Tuesday, 9th January, and then fly into the Ivorian capital, Abidjan on Wednesday, 10th January.
The Eagles are in group A with the host, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. Nigeria’s first match is against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, 14th January, Cote d’Ivoire 18th January and Guinea Bissau 22nd January, 2024.
The list – 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).
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