Two call-ups, Zero minutes: Is Peseiro moving away from Troost-Ekong in Super Eagles squad?

Super Eagles head coach,Jose Peseiro, has unveiled his 25-man squad for upcoming matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique, Soccernet.ng reports.

Notably, Peseiro’s selection omitted Troost-Ekong while including other defensive options like Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamiu Collins, Jordan Torunarigha, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Bruno Onyemeachi, and Calvin Bassey for the upcoming national duty.

Troost-Ekong, a 30-year-old former Watford defender, has had no opportunity to represent the Super Eagles despite two call-ups in 2023.

His last appearance for Nigeria was in November 2022 during a 4-0 loss to Portugal. Following that, Troost-Ekong faced an injury setback that kept him out of the squad for matches against Guinea-Bissau in the Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

In 2023, Troost-Ekong was called up twice, against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe, but he has yet to feature in any game this year.

However, this situation has sparked questions within the Nigerian football community regarding Peseiro’s defensive strategy.

It remains uncertain whether Peseiro is exploring alternative defensive options, if Troost-Ekong has lost his place in the starting lineup, or if Troost-Ekong’s fitness no longer meets the demands of Super Eagles’ defense.

Peseiro has favored other defenders, with Semi Ajayi becoming a consistent choice for center-back alongside Calvin Bassey and Kenneth Omeruo.

While the opponents faced by the 2013 AFCON champions may not pose significant defensive challenges, the chosen defensive lineup has performed admirably.

The reasons behind Peseiro’s selection choices and any potential changes in Super Eagles’ defense remain unclear, but it’s evident that the 63-year-old manager is determined to achieve the best results.