Super Eagles head Coach, José Santos Peseiro, has invited Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Ahmed Musa among others for next weekend’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Sierra Leone, www.aclsports.com reports.
League title winner with Napoli, Osimhen, who scored 31 goals in all competitions as his side also reached the UEFA Champions League semi-final, leads the strikers’ list. It has been a stellar season for the former U17 World Cup winner, as he was recently honoured with the National Award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Government of Nigeria, and has received a unique ball and jersey from world football-ruling body, FIFA.
Villarreal’s Chukwueze, who was recently named the best African in Spanish La Liga, was also listed among the forwards in the team and there is a return for Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi after a long absence. Team captain Ahmed Musa is called up again as well as William Ekong and Franck Onyeka.
Meanwhile, Peseiro, who has been watching the ongoing NPFL Championship Playoffs in Lagos, also decided to call up goalkeepers Victor Sochima (Rivers United) and Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba), as well as Rivers United defender Ebube Duru and Bendel Insurance FC midfielder Divine Nwachukwu.
Nigeria, who are top of their qualification group with nine points from four matches, will now face the Leone Stars at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Sunday, 18 June, as Sierra Leone does not have any stadium in their country approved for international matches.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)
Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)
Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey)
