The Super Eagles’ head coach, Jose Peseiro, has unveiled a 23-man squad for the upcoming decisive match in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, set to take place on Sunday, September 10. The Nigerian national team will face off against the Group A bottom-dwellers, São Tomé and Príncipe, in a showdown scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. WAT at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
Peseiro has made some intriguing additions to the squad, introducing fresh faces who have been making waves in their respective clubs. Notable among these additions are Gent’s Gift Orban, Jordan Torunarigha, and the rising star Victor Boniface, who has been making a significant impact in the German Bundesliga.
Victor Boniface, who recently made the move to German club Bayer Leverkusen from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, has had an explosive start to his career there. In his first four appearances for the club, he has notched an impressive five goals and provided two assists.
Gift Orban, currently plying his trade with Belgian club Gent, has been in excellent form at the beginning of this season, boasting six goals in nine games.
Jordan Torunarigha, a 26-year-old left-footed center-back, has been a consistent performer for Gent since his arrival in January 2022. This season, he has contributed with one goal and one assist in ten appearances.
However, the squad announcement brings with it one significant omission – the absence of Chuba Akpom, a 27-year-old striker who currently plays for Dutch club Ajax. In the previous season, Akpom had a remarkable run, scoring 29 goals and providing one assist in 42 EFL Championship matches, which earned him recognition as the top striker and best player of the season in the English second-tier league. Despite these achievements, Akpom has only made a single appearance for Ajax and has yet to find the net for his new club.
Below is the complete squad for the Super Eagles vs. São Tomé and Príncipe clash:
**Goalkeepers:**
– Francis Uzoho
– Olorunleke Ojo
– Adebayo Adeleye
**Defenders:**
– Ola Aina
– Tyronne Ebuehi
– Jordan Torunarigha
– William Ekong
– Semi Ajayi
– Calvin Bassey
– Jamilu Collins
– Bruno Onyemaechi
**Midfielders:**
– Wilfred Ndidi
– Raphael Onyedika
– Joe Ayodele-Aribo
– Frank Onyeka
The squad promises an exciting blend of experienced players and emerging talents, creating high hopes for the Super Eagles in their quest for success in the upcoming match.
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