IT’S OFFICIAL: NFF releases 40-player provisional squad for AFCON

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the Super Eagles’ provisional squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

According to a document on CAF’s website on Wednesday, NFF submitted the 40-man list to the continental football governing body before the announced December 14 deadline.

TheCable had reported that Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong were included in the Super Eagles squad for the competition billed to hold in Ivory Coast.

Musa and Troost-Ekong were left out of recent games undertaken by the Nigerian senior national team.

Musa has not played for the Super Eagles since the game against Guinea-Bissau in March 2023, while Ekong’s last game was against Portugal in November 2022.

The list includes six goalkeepers, 13 defenders, eight midfielders and 13 forwards.

Victor Osimhen, newly crowned African footballer of the year, was included alongside red-hot Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze.

The squad includes three goalkeepers from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL): Amas Obasogie of Bendel Insurance, Ojo Olorunleke of Enyimba and Sporting Lagos’ Christian Nwoke. The trio are the only home-based players in the squad. They will compete against Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali and Adebayo Adeleye for the final spot on the team.

Kelechi Nwakali is a surprise addition to midfield alongside Alhassan Yusuf and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Wilfred Ndidi also made the list alongside Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo.

Peseiro is expected to chisel down the list to 27 players before the January 3, 2024, deadline.

The 34th edition of AFCON is billed to kick off on January 13, 2024, in Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in Group A alongside the hosts, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria will take on Equatorial Guinea in their opening game before facing Ivory Coast and rounding off the group stage with the Guinea-Bissau tie.

THE FULL PROVISIONAL LIST

Goalkeepers
1. Francis Uzoho
2. Adebayo Adeleye
3. Ojo Olorunleke
4. Stanley Nwabali
5. Amas Obasogie
6. Christian Nwoke

Defenders
1. Ola Aina
2. Bright Osayi-Samuel
3. Tyronne Ebuehi
4. Jamilu Collins
5. Zaidu Sanusi
6. Bruno Onyemaechi
7. William Troost-Ekong
8. Semi Ajayi
9. Calvin Bassey
10. Kenneth Omeruo
11. Kevin Akpoguma
12. Chidozie Awaziem
13. Jordan Torunarigha

Midfielders
1. Wilfred Ndidi
2. Frank Onyeka
3. Joe Aribo
4. Alex Iwobi
5. Alhassan Yusuf
6. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
7. Raphael Onyedika Nwadike
8. Kelechi Nwakali

Attackers
1. Victor Osimhen
2. Victor Boniface
3. Terem Moffi
4. Umar Sadiq
5. Ahmed Musa
6. Paul Onuachu
7. Cyriel Dessers
8. Ademola Lookman
9. Nathan Tella
10. Moses Simon
11. Emmanuel Dennis
12. Samuel Chukwueze
13. Kelechi Iheanacho