Tremendous Eagles coach Jose Peseiro introduced his closing 25-man squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast on Friday. PUNCH Sports activities Further analyzes each participant within the staff eyeing a fourth AFCON trophy
Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United)
Nwabili is considered one of two goalkeepers within the Eagles squad making their debut on the event.
The Chippa United goalkeeper has already been attacked by the house aspect Eagles and has been in wonderful kind, holding seven clear sheets in 14 video games and conceding 12 objectives in South Africa's high division.
Francis Uzoho
Beneath-fire goalkeeper Francis Uzoho might be within the highlight when the AFCON event kicks off in two weeks. The 24-year-old's kind for the Eagles has been the subject of dialog following the staff's current outcomes towards Saudi Arabia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
The Omonia Nicosia stopper has been inactive this season, making 4 appearances for his membership and conceding six instances.
Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba)
Enyimba's first selection will compete towards Stanley Nwabili for the second selection place. Ojo is the one participant from the Nigerian Skilled Soccer League within the squad and he has blown cold and warm for the Elephant this season regardless of their current spectacular outcomes.
Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto)
Sanusi is among the shock gamers within the Eagles squad for the event after just lately recovering from a muscle harm. He has one aim to his title in 9 appearances in 647 minutes of motion.
Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)
The fit-again Ola Aina will make his third AFCON look in Ivory Coast, after the final two editions in Egypt and Cameroon. The precise-back made 13 appearances, scoring a aim and offering an help for Nottingham Forest, serving to the Difficult Timber maintain three clear sheets within the Premier League. William Troost-Ekong (PAOK)
Troost-Ekong has turn out to be one of many mainstays within the Eagles staff since leaving the Netherlands, his native nation and whom he represented at youth stage, for Nigeria.
Regardless of being overlooked of the squad for over a yr, the PAOK defender has been one of the crucial constant Nigerian centre-backs in Europe this season. Up to now this season he has made 21 appearances and supplied one help. Ekong has continued to show himself because the undisputed best choice on the coronary heart of the defence, nevertheless it stays to be seen whether or not he might be a starter in Ivory Coast.
Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista)
One other AFCON debutant within the Eagles squad, Onyemaechi, who has made 12 appearances for Boavista within the Portuguese league this season, has one help. He’s anticipated to be the primary selection on the event, other than Sanusi's health stage.
Vibrant Osayi-Samuel
Undoubtedly the Eagles' undisputed right-back heading into the thirty fourth version of the AFCON. Osayi-Samuel is considered one of Nigeria's gamers who has been in wonderful kind because the begin of the 2023/24 season.
The 25-year-old has made 24 appearances for Fenerbahce in all competitions this season, scoring two objectives and registering 4 assists.
The Nigerian is among the European defenders with the very best variety of assists this season.
His service on the correct flank will definitely assist the staff to take down opponents when the AFCON kicks off.
Kenneth Omeruo
The 30-year-old, Nigeria's most skilled defender in the meanwhile, is ready for his fourth look on the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Omeruo was a part of the Eagles squad that conquered the continent in 2013 and he’ll hope to make use of his wealth of expertise to guide the staff to a different win subsequent yr.
The previous Leganes man has been in good kind for his Turkish membership Kasimpasa, scoring one aim and offering two assists in 16 league matches.
Calvin Bassey
It has been a blended success for Bassey to this point this season, however his efficiency was sufficient to persuade Peseiro to present the defender a spot within the staff.
It is going to be Bassey's first AFCON look and he hopes to present account of himself.
The 23-year-old has are available in for heavy criticism for his disappointing efficiency for the Eagles, however now he has the possibility to show his doubters incorrect in Abidjan.
Bassey has been a daily for Fulham this season, making 17 appearances for the Cottagers.
Semi Ajayi
Usually deployed as a centre-back, Ajayi has at all times carried out decently as a Nigeria participant.
Not the kind of participant who makes the headlines each week. The 30-year-old is a really dependable participant day-after-day and Peseiro will hope he may help the staff cease low-cost objectives.
Wilfred persistence
Undoubtedly one of the crucial in-form gamers for the Eagles heading into the Nations Cup in Ivory Coast. Ndidi's place within the staff was by no means in query because the midfielder has been in good kind for Leicester Metropolis within the Championship as they battle to return to the English Premier League.
The 27-year-old has been a number one determine this season and has proven his versatility below his new boss, scoring 4 objectives and offering six assists in 23 video games.
Peseiro will hope Ndidi can replicate his Leicester kind for the Eagles as they hope to win the AFCON title for a fourth time.
Alex Iwobi
Like his midfield comrade, Iwobi was one of many gamers whose place within the staff was by no means in jeopardy. The Everton man has settled in very properly since transferring to Fulham in the summertime, regardless of taking part in in quite a lot of roles.
In seventeen Premier League video games, the 27-year-old has scored three objectives and registered one help. If the Eagles wish to have any probability of going far within the AFCON, they may want Iwobi to be at his finest.
Joe Aribo
Aribo might be relieved to have made the ultimate 25-man record as a consequence of his poor kind and lack of taking part in time at Southampton.
Earlier than Peseiro introduced his closing squad, simply minutes earlier than kick-off between Southampton and Plymouth, Aribo performed 18 of the 25 matches performed within the Championship and scored only one aim.
The 27-year-old was used sparingly by his membership aspect, beginning simply seven of 25 video games. Of late, the midfielder appears to have rediscovered his potential and has began all 5 of the Saints' final video games.
It stays to be seen whether or not the previous Rangers man will have the ability to proceed his wealthy kind in Ivory Coast.
Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England)
Onyeka has been a key participant for Brentford within the Premier League this season and Peseiro hopes he can play simply as central a job within the Eagles' squad. Onyeka might be attending his second AFCON match with the Tremendous Eagles.
His potential to manage the sport and contribute defensively makes him a necessary addition to the Nigerian midfield. Since his debut in 2020, he has performed fourteen video games for the Eagles and scored one aim
Raphael Onyedika (Membership Brugge, Belgium)
Onyedika is one other potential AFCON debutant because the 22-year-old versatile midfielder brings his abilities and creativity to the Eagles squad and made his nationwide staff debut in 2022.
Onyedika scored one aim and supplied one help for Membership Brugge this season, whereas he made three appearances and supplied one help for the Tremendous Eagles.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy)
For his second AFCON look, the reigning African Participant of the Yr has confirmed to be a key participant for Napoli and the Tremendous Eagles. Since making his senior staff debut in 2017, he has performed 27 video games and scored 20 objectives.
With seven objectives in 13 Serie A video games this season, Osimhen is in good kind and might be eager to proceed his run in Ivory Coast subsequent yr.
Victor Bonifatius (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Boniface is prepared for his AFCON debut after making a superb begin for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. With sixteen objectives and 7 assists in all competitions this season, the 23-year-old is an asset to his membership. His performances on the sector have demonstrated his potential as a top-class striker, and he’s anticipated to deliver the identical stage of excellence to the Eagles squad.
Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
Having missed a number of main tournaments as a consequence of accidents, Simon might be glad to be a part of the Eagles squad for the AFCON. With a report of 60 appearances and 9 objectives for the Eagles, Simon's presence provides depth and expertise to the ahead line.
His contribution of three objectives and three assists this season with FC Nantes in Ligue 1 means he is able to make an affect for the Nigerian nationwide staff at AFCON.
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
Atalanta ahead Lookman is amongst those that will make their AFCON debut on the event. Lookman's skilful and artistic taking part in fashion has been a spotlight for Atalanta FC, the place he has scored six objectives and supplied three assists in 13 Serie A appearances this season.
His inclusion within the Eagles squad provides versatility and attacking aptitude to the staff's ahead line and he might be eager so as to add to his two objectives for Nigeria and ten appearances.
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
Chukwueze brings his thrilling expertise to the Eagles squad as he gears up for his second AFCON competitors. At AC Milan he scored two objectives and supplied one help in seventeen appearances.
His potential to tackle defenders and create scoring alternatives makes him a priceless asset for the Eagles. He scored 5 objectives in 30 video games for the Tremendous Eagles.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester Metropolis, England)
Iheanacho has been in good kind for the Foxes this season with six objectives and two assists in all competitions. His goalscoring potential and attacking instincts make him a priceless addition to the Tremendous Eagles.
Iheanacho has scored fifteen objectives in fifty appearances for the Nigerian nationwide staff and might be eager so as to add to that tally in his second AFCON competitors.
Umar Sadiq (Actual Sociedad, Spain)
At first of the season it seemed like Sadiq wouldn’t be within the Tremendous Eagles squad for the AFCON, however accidents to Terem Moffi and Awoniyi and his current good kind in LaLiga for Actual Sociedad have earned him a spot within the Nigerian staff.
This might be Sadiq's second AFCON event. The 26-year-old performed ten video games for the Tremendous Eagles and scored one aim.
Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor, Turkey)
Tremendous Eagles captain Musa will deliver his wealth of expertise to the Eagles staff at AFCON. At 31, Musa's management and goal-scoring potential have been influential all through his profession, and his presence provides depth to the Nigerian ahead.
Musa is probably the most capped Eagle ever and was a part of the staff that final lifted the AFCON trophy in 2013. He scored a complete of 16 objectives in 108 appearances for the Tremendous Eagles.
