The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has announced that the Super Eagles are scheduled to feature in two international friendly matches later this month.
The three-time Africa Cup of Nations winners will trade tackles with Ghana and Mali in the Moroccan city of Marakesh on March 22nd and 26th, respectively.
Twenty-seven players have been invited for the two games, two more than the Super Eagles squad to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Here are the five observations drawn from the squad list the NFF released for the international friendlies.
Maduka Okoye missed out on Nigeria’s squad to the 2023 AFCON, as former Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro took three other goalkeepers to Cote d’Ivoire.
While Stanley Nwabali was shining as one of the revelations of the tournament, Okoye was impressing in the Italian Serie A.
The former Sparta Rotterdam goalie, who has confessed to wishing he was at the AFCON, kept clean sheets against Monza and Juventus – claiming the man-of-the-match honours against the latter.
Despite his top form, Okoye has not earned a recall to the national fold as the three Super Eagles goalkeepers to the AFCON made it to the squad list for the two friendlies.
Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, and Olorunleke Ojo will be on the next flight to Morocco.
The bulk of Nigeria’s 25-man squad to the AFCON has made the roster for the games against Ghana and Mali.
However, seven Super Eagles stars who were in Cote d’Ivoire have missed out.
Most Valuable Player at the AFCON, William Troost-Ekong, is not in the squad as he is recovering from the injury he coupled at the tournament.
Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina, Trabzonspor Paul Onuachu, and Porto’s defender Zaidu Sanusi are also out due to injuries.
Captain Ahmed Musa, who is without a club after recently parting ways with Turkey’s Sivasspor, OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi, and Southampton’s Joe Aribo, did not make the list.
Following the absence of several AFCON Super Eagles stars, a few others who missed the tournament have earned a recall.
Leicester City’s Wilfried Ndidi, Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi, and Real Sociedad’s Umar Sadiq have returned to the international fold after returning from the treatment room.
Cardiff City full-back Jamilu Collins and Empoli defender Tyronne Ebuehi also return to fill in the gap left behind by Sanusi and Aina in defence.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella and Hatayspor’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru picked up their first international caps in November last year and are in line to add to it against the Black Stars and Eagles.
After impressing in Scotland, Glasgow Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers also get a Super Eagles recall.
The NFF has extended invitations to Gabriel Osho and Benjamin Tianimu, with the two players set to team up with the Super Eagles for the first time.
Born in Reading, England, to parents of Nigerian descent, Osho is eligible to play for the Three Lions and the Super Eagles.
However, the three-time African champions have won the race to Osho’s international allegiance.
The 25-year-old defender has featured in the National League, League One, and the Championship before excelling with Luton Town in the Premier League this season.
Benjamin Tianimu had his breakthrough year with Bendel Insurance in the NPFL last season and, only a few weeks ago, sealed a move to Tanzania’s Ihefu SC.
He will look to add value to the Super Eagles’ defence.
The Super Eagles currently have no head coach following the departure of Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro.
The NFF is yet to appoint a new head coach as the football body recently announced that it is taking applications from interested parties for the vacant position.
In the absence of Peseiro, George Finidi will lead the Super Eagles against Ghana and Mali.
Enyimba FC coach Finidi was assistant coach to Peseiro during the 22-month stint of the former Sporting CP manager.
A former international who won titles with Ajax and Real Betis, Finidi led Enyimba to the NPFL title last season.
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Gabriel Osho (Luton FC, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City, Wales); Benjamin Tianimu (Ihefu SC, Tanzania)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards: Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayspor, Turkey); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
This post was last modified on March 9, 2024 5:44 pm
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chidera ejuke who is in good form was not called he is a good winger who can help support the attack.
I think Francis uzoho is not in good form. should be replaced with
okoye, Arthur or adebayo.
Francis uzoho should be replaced by
okoye Arthur or adebayo
Maduka Okoye judging by his recent form deserves a return to the Super Eagles squad and ought to be given a new call up to the team.