Côte d’Ivoire 2023: Musa, Ekong, Osimhen make Nigeria final squad for AFCON
Jose Peseiro, the head coach of the Nigeria national team, Super Eagles, has named the final team squad for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for Côte d’Ivoire in January.
Three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards were included in the three-time winners’ final squad list that was announced by the Nigeria Football Federation on Friday.
As expected, Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi made the list while William Troost-Ekong and Ahmed Musa were included after being left out initially.
Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili was named in the squad, an attempt by the coach to find an alternative in the goalkeeping position, which has been a serious issue for the team in recent matches.
Another goalkeeper in the squad is Enyimba goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo, the only Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) player in Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON.
Nigeria is drawn in Group A of the tournament alongside host nation Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers
Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa)
Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)
Defenders
Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal)
Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)
William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika, Greece)
Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)
Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey)
Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England)
Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)
Midfielders
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)
Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England)
Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)
Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)
Forwards
Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey)
Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC, Italy)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain)
Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy)
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy)
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Africa
20 children killed in school bus crash in Uganda
A school bus carrying pupils veered off the road in eastern Uganda on Thursday, killing 20 schoolchildren and a teacher in Kapchorwa district.
Diaspora
Beyond Nollywood: List of Nigerian actors who light up Hollywood
Nigerian actors and actresses, whether born in the diaspora or raised abroad, have become household names in Hollywood.
Anti-Corruption
How Nigerians Anthony Ikenwe, Kevin Nwamma pulled off multimillion-pound crypto heist in UK, end in jail
Messrs Ikenwe, Nwamma and one other crook were living lavish lifestyles, buying cars, designer clothes, and Rolexes, and going on numerous luxury holidays.
Education
UNICEF praises Nigerian government for rescuing kidnapped Oriire schoolchildren
UNICEF has commended the Nigerian government for rescuing 39 abducted schoolchildren and five teachers in Oyo state.
States
Yobe governor to spend N73 billion on agric empowerment, other projects
The Yobe government has approved N73.3 billion for various projects and services in the state.
Showbiz
Five things Nigerians need to know about FG’s FreeTV
The federal government has launched FreeTV, a subscription-free digital television platform designed to expand access to television services for millions of Nigerians.
