The Nigeria Football Federation on Saturday (December 25) announced the names of 28 Super Eagles players for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.
With four goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and ten strikers, the team consists of some of the best Nigerian footballers in the world.
As comprehensive as the 28-man squad list appears, it still leaves out some very talented stars whose inclusion would have raised no eyebrows.
Two Super Eagles regulars will miss the continent's biggest showpiece in Cameroon due to injury.
While Napoli's Victor Osimhen has made a remarkable recovery from his face fractures to be available for the Afcon, the same cannot be said of Watford's Oghenekaro Etebo and Genk's Paul Onuachu.
The two were part of the bronze medal-winning squad to the last edition in Egypt and would have been in Cameroon next month but for their wounds.
Five other players who were at Egypt 2019 but will not be at the 33rd edition of the Afcon are goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Samuel Kalu, John Ogu, Henry Onyekuru, and retired international John Obi Mikel.
Despite being in top form and peak physical condition, Trabzonspor's Anthony Nwakaeme, Slavia Prague's Peter Olayinka, Feyenoord's Cyriel Dessers, Hoffenheim's Kevin Akpoguma, and Rangers defender Calvin Bassey will wonder why they are not on the plane to Cameroon.
Terem Moffi's poor recent form for Lorient would have contributed to his exclusion. Venezia's Tyronne Ebuehi and West Brom's Semi Ajayi continue their wait for an Afcon debut.
The English-born trio of Bordeaux's Josh Maja, Leicester City's Ademola Lookman, and Reading's Ovie Ejaria also miss out despite committing their international futures to the three-time African champions.
Despite these notable absences, the Super Eagles will still be expected to present a formidable challenge at the Afcon and make it to the competition's latter stages.
Super Eagles absentee's best XI:
(GK) Ezenwa; (RB) Ebuehi, (CB) Akpoguma, (CB) Ajayi, (LB) Bassey; (RW) Lookman, (CM) Etebo, (CM) Ejaria, (LW) Nwakaeme; (ST) Onuachu, (ST) Dessers.
Tyronne, Akpogomu, Bassey should be in and Musa, Ighalo, Omeruo out. Eguavoen fall my hand
I don’t know why all these local coaches can forkup
What is ndah doing on that list instead of kalvin basey or Glasgow Rangers FC,what is Ahmed Musa doing on the list what happened to lookman
I don’t know why all these local coaches can act suspicious
What is ndah doing on that list instead of kalvin basey of Glasgow Rangers or Calvin apkoguma, what is Ahmed Musa doing on the list what happened to ademola lookman what are they going to be doing with four goal keepers?
This is one of the reasons I never in my life support any local coach to lead Nigeria team.They are bias,shakky and unprofessional in their decisions.Dessers has been Nigerian most consisted strikers at least in d last two months in European club along with victor.Why should you leave him behind Equavon? Where did you watch Abdullai play in Cyprus abi? What is wrong with Nigeria.This is the same person that saddled with responsibility of leading NFA technical dept.please coach where did he watch Ndah play in south Africa abi but he is immuned from watch Desserts in fayenood ,Akponna in German,Ebuehi the only modern right back in our team in Italy.This is a shame! Who did this to Nigeria.
Why 4 goal keeper and 10 striker, I wonder why Kalvin Bassey Tyronne did not make the list and shehu, odion musa simon, are listed among the 28 players, why did pinnick sack Rohr for Eguavon who once coach Nigeria to the 2006 africa cup of nations after losing to ivory coast on semi final he opened his dirty mouth and said he was experimenting that way why we lost, soeome who does not having any coaching experience,his last job was in south Africa after losing his first to match and conceded 10 goals he left, Mr pinnick u better announced our new coach before the nations cup start.
This Augustine Eguavoen is just a fool for leaving players like Akpoguma, Ajayi, Bassey, and Dessers out and calling udah omeoru and also having four goal keepers can’t he just have 2
The list by Eguavoen though not perfect is a fantastic list. Very impressed by the inclusion of Kelechi Nwakali. We have not had attacking midfield right for some years. Nwakali will change that. As for inclusion of Ighalo and Ahmed Musa, its perfect. You cant buy experience. On,and off field they are a blessing to the team. My only regret is omission of Ademola Lookman of Leicester FC. That boy is too good a midfielder not to be in the team. He even merits being in starting lineup. It’s not a bad idea to include a promising local league player (Ndah) if only for the exposure and experience. As for those complaining of 4 goalkeepers, they do not know of the new COVID-19 induced Afcon requirement for 28 players instead 9f the usual 23. How can you add 5 extra players without a goalkeeper. What if two goal keepers are Covid positive and the 3rd gets injured or gets a red card. Exposing a 4th goal keeper is good for the future development of the team.
You are mad, idiot fooooooool
Can’t you reply without causing. He made his points, make yours
Can’t you reply without cursing. He made his points, make yours if it is better
If I may ask, who is Oliseh Nda, where is he, and which club is he playing?, na waoo!, any good coach will not drop Akpoguma for Nda, bench warmer Abdullah for Ebuehi, any football follower will know the reason why Balogun is not playing at the moment and the player who replaced him, pls can Balogun play afcon with injury.
Austin , E is not a coach and a man who can choose the players Nigerians wants to see. Those player where send to him by Tbe Nff Mafia’s. Only a foriegn coach can choose players based on merits . Who knows how much he must pocked this time around. We are blessed with good players but lack of cable hand is killing us.
Please b
Let the nff do whatever they like with our football ,is it not a disappoinment already that a country like Nigeria does not have team .They are only going to Africa cup of nations to participate, you cannot win that kind of tournament without a formidable team.
That is why I hate to see a nigerian coaching the team because interest most come in. How can four goalkeepers be picked and someone like lookman who is even playing better than all our wing attackers. Selfish Eguavon
Alot have been said about the selected crop of players representing Nigeria at the Afcon. Firstly,going to a tournament with 4 goal keepers is a NO for me,three (3) is enough.
Secondly,exclusion of Lookman and Ebuhehi does makes coach Austin E a total failure. It is never a must to go to Afcon with all the players he inherited from the outgoing eagles coach.
The old man brought Ighalo to the last game but failed to justified his inclusion.
I expected the selection to based on merit, some of the players included are bench warmers in there club sides and the ones playing week in week out are excluded.
We are not ready yet.
We don’t mean business.
I only see them losing this competition after losing to Egypt in their first match them they will need to qualify from the group stage with only 4 or 6 points before being knocked out in the knock out stages
O my God we’re is my lookman ,
I doubt if something good will come out from that team in AFCON. May not qualify to the quarter finals.
This is the reason they sack Rohr, Pinnick doesn’t know what his doing, just sitting at the helm of affairs using NFF funds to fly around aimlessly.
Peter Olayinka, Dessers, Bassey should have made that team, omeruo, ndah, iwobi, ighalo should have been left out ,2 goal keepers is ok, What is the difference in team selection if Rohr was sacked due to poor play & team selection if Eguavoen sticks with same selection, he lacks initiative
LoL , what if after all these criticisms Nigeria wins the AFCON. Everybody mouth go close