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The Nigeria Soccer Federation is expected to have submitted a provisional listing of 55 gamers to the Confederation of African Soccer relating to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in January.
From that expanded listing, head coach Jose Peseiro will choose 27 gamers to signify Nigeria on the competitors.
The Tremendous Eagles are three-time champions of the AFCON, they usually have been tipped to be among the many favourites to go all the way in which in Ivory Coast.
Soccernet.ng‘s Imhons Erons appears to be like on the gamers who ought to be within the Nigerian squad for the continental championship for the Eagles to make a significant influence.
Goalkeepers
The goalkeeping division provides Peseiro the most important headache.
The Portuguese tactician has lastly agreed to seek for a greater various to Francis Uzoho on the eve of the AFCON.
Peseiro appears to have settled for Stanley Nwabali – the 27-year-old Chippa United goalie who has stored seven clear sheets in 13 video games.
Nevertheless, a surer guess is Jonathan Rasheed, who helped IFK Värnamo end fifth within the Allsvenskan this season, two years after they gained promotion to the Swedish high tier.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper was additionally the second-best goalkeeper within the just lately concluded league marketing campaign.
Amas Obasogie of Bendel Insurance coverage and Doma United’s Osayi Kingdom have impressed within the NPFL. Nonetheless, there may be inadequate time to persuade Peseiro that they’re higher than Uzoho. Israel-based Adebayo Adeleye can be an incredible third alternative.
Greatest choose: Jonathan Rasheed, Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye
Standby: Osayi Kingdom, Stanley Nwabili
Proper centre-half
Peseiro has snubbed William Troost-Ekong for the previous couple of worldwide engagements regardless of the Olympic bronze medalist’s spectacular shows for Greek facet PAOK.
Troost-Ekong’s expertise can be priceless in Ivory Coast, as would Kenneth Omeruo, one of many two surviving members of the Nigerian squad that received the AFCON ten years in the past.
Semi Ajayi has develop into a dependable rock in defence for the Tremendous Eagles, and his partnership with Calvin Bassey may thrive on the continental championships.
Greatest choose: Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo
Standby: Kevin Akpoguma, Chidozie Awaziem
Left centre-half
Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah understands African soccer greater than Jordan Torunarigha, and he has been the best-performing Nigerian in South Africa for some time now.
He could be an incredible understudy for Calvin Bassey, who’s trying more and more extra at house within the centre-back function at Fulham and the Tremendous Eagles.
Regardless of his advancing age, Leon Balogun remains to be getting the job completed for Glasgow Rangers, and it might have been nice to see him and Troost-Ekong recreate the Oyibo Wall in Ivory Coast.
Greatest choose: Olisah Ndah, Calvin Bassey
Standby: Jordan Torunarigha, Leon Balogun
Proper full-back
Brilliant Osayi-Samuel has been glorious for Fenerbahce and the nationwide staff since his Tremendous Eagles debut.
Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina is not Nigeria’s greatest right-back, as that title now belongs to Remo Star’s Sodiq Ismail.
Ismail is defensively astute.
He’s the most effective crosser of the ball within the NPFL, had eight assists final season, and already notched 9 this time period with half the season nonetheless to go. Osimhen would love him.
Greatest choose: Sodiq Ismail, Brilliant Osayi-Samuel
Standby: Ola Aina, Tyronne Ebuehi
Left full-back
When Jamilu Collins and Zaidu Sanusi have been injured, Boavista’s Bruno Onyemaechi stepped up for the Tremendous Eagles, and he has been extremely constant since.
Collins has been a dependable performer for Cardiff Metropolis and was within the Championship Staff of the Month for November.
It’s troublesome to edge out Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi from this staff, however Collins and Onyemaechi supply the whole lot between defensive solidity and attacking proficiency.
Greatest choose: Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi
Standby: Zaidu Sanusi, Ebube Duru
Defensive midfielder
Wilfred Ndidi is a extra rounded midfielder at Leicester Metropolis nowadays, however he stays the most effective defensive midfield dynamos round.
He can sort out, intercept, go, help, and even rating targets. It might be fascinating to see what job Peseiro assigns him in Ivory Coast.
Frank Onyeka is changing into a extra related ingredient at Brentford, and his rising confidence will assist enormously.
Membership Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika has a great engine and could possibly be the box-to-box midfielder the Tremendous Eagles have missed since Oghenekaro Etebo.
It’s disheartening that Royal Antwerp’s Alhassan Yusuf is but to make his Tremendous Eagles debut.
Greatest choose: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika
Standby: Bonke Harmless, Alhassan Yusuf
Central midfielders
Alex Iwobi has impressed for Fulham this time period as a winger, however with Nigeria, the previous Arsenal man will return to the centre of the again.
Nigeria’s primary playmaker has proven he wants assist in powerful conditions, and it’s hoped that Southampton’s Joe Aribo will present that.
Ahmed Musa’s greatest efficiency below Peseiro got here when he was deployed as a central midfielder in opposition to Sao Tome and Principe.
What the Sivasspor’s man has misplaced in pace, he has gained in intelligence.
Musa may choose the run of strikers with precision passes, and the captain could possibly be the lacking hyperlink between the Tremendous Eagles’ boring midfield and the staff’s firebrand assault.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s time will come, as would Kelechi Nwakali’s.
Greatest choose: Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, Ahmed Musa
Standby: Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Kelechi Nwakali
Proper-wingers
Samuel Chukwueze netted a wonderful objective for AC Milan in opposition to Newcastle United within the Champions League to remind many why he’s nonetheless Nigeria’s number-one proper winger.
He’s heading to his third AFCON and ought to be higher ready to rise to the event and be the difference-maker for the Tremendous Eagles when wanted.
Chidera Ejuke has been glorious for Belgium’s Royal Antwerp. This week against Barcelona, he despatched a message to Peseiro reminding the Portuguese tactician why he ought to be picked forward of Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella as Chukwueze’s backup.
Greatest choose: Chidera Ejuke, Samuel Chukwueze
Standby: Nathan Tella, Peter Olayinka
Left-wingers
Moses Simon was Nigeria’s help king throughout the qualifiers, and his effectivity out huge makes him the primary alternative on that left flank.
Ademola Lookman has excelled as a supporting striker at Atalanta. Nonetheless, Peseiro will possible deploy him on the wings because the coach appears to be like for artistic gamers who will provide the ultimate ball to his bold forwards.
Samuel Kalu is a resurgent man in Switzerland, whereas Onyekuru has not misplaced any of his innovative in Saudi Arabia.
Greatest choose: Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman
Standby: Henry Onyekuru, Samuel Kalu
Supporting strikers
Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho are difficult on the ball and good goalscorers in their very own proper.
In addition they love to offer assists, which makes them the proper gamers to pair with the most effective strikers within the squad.
Iheanacho has picked up a knock that has stored him out of Leicester Metropolis’s final two matchday squads.
If he, nonetheless, fails to get better in time, OGC Good’s Terem Moffi may step in to take his spot. Moffi’s targets have dried up in latest weeks, although.
Greatest choose: Victor Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho
Standby: Terem Moffi, Chuba Akpom
Centre-forward
Newly-crowned Africa Soccer of the Yr Victor Osimhen would be the most celebrated star on the AFCON. His starvation, never-say-die spirit, and targets can be essential for Nigeria as the previous champions look to rule Africa once more.
The Napoli man obtained ten targets throughout the qualifiers, and a repeat of half of that within the event correct may propel Nigeria to the ultimate.
Actual Sociedad’s Umar Sadiq and Trabzonspor’s Paul Onuachu can be succesful deputies. Sadiq brings guile across the field, whereas Onuachu’s heading potential may determine shut encounters.
KAA Gent’s Present Orban has misplaced his scoring contact a bit just lately, whereas Cyriel Dessers has been inconsistent for Rangers.
Greatest choose: Victor Osimhen, Umar Sadiq, Paul Onuachu
Standby: Present Orban, Cyriel Dessers
The AFCON kicks off on January 13, with Nigeria scheduled to face hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau within the group stage.
NB: Who would you add to or take away from this listing? Give your opinions within the remark part beneath.
