Super Eagles Coach Jose Peseiro, has explained how the team’s 25-man squad was picked for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Eagles final squad for this month’s AFCON was announced on Friday December 29.
The likes of Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong made a return while Terem Moffi, Paul Onuachu and Cyriel Dessers were notable absentees.
It was initially reported that the Eagles will storm Côte d’Ivoire with 27 players but 25 will represent the country.
Speaking on the criteria for picking the 25 players, Peseiro listed the qualities met by those selected.
“The NFF decided that it will go with 25 and I agreed because it is easy to manage this number,” the Portuguese coach said on Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) TV.
“We first came up with the 41 players then the players who made the final list have been with us and they have shown good performance.
“There are players who showed good performance in their clubs but didn’t do well in the national team. Also, there are players who do well for the national team and didn’t do well in their clubs.
“We looked at current form, if they are playing well and showed good condition.
“It was not easy to choose the 25 players but it was my responsibility and I hope and pray they play well for us.“
One area in the Eagles team that has been a cause for worry is the goalkeeping aspect going into the AFCON.
Embattled Francis Uzoho is one of the three goalkeepers who was selected by Peseiro, but it is not certain if he will be in goal.
Following Uzoho’s poor displays in goal for the Eagles, Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali was drafted in to provide competition for the first choice spot.
When asked why he decided to include Nwabali, Peseiro said he was impressed with what he saw when he watched him in Chippa United’s training and league game.
“I received information about him and I tried to observe him in the video but I then requested that I go to South Africa to speak with him, his coach (at Chippa United), and spoke with other people.
“I watched his trainings and I watched their match and after evaluating him for the four or five days we were there we decided to put him in the list because we believe in him.
“He showed good qualities, good performance and now I have to wait and hope he shows the same capacity and qualities in the Super Eagles because it is different when you play in the national team and club.“
The former Real Madrid assistant coach spoke about the training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“We will be in Abu Dhabi for six days from where we will be involved in our preparation, organisation, ideas. At the same time we want to improve our speed, introduce different dynamics because this is a specific tournament which needs maximum focus.“
As part of preparations for the AFCON, the Eagles will play Burkina Faso and Cape Verde In friendly games.
Commenting on the two friendlies, Peseiro explained that they are organised to evaluate the performance of the players and also introduce different things.
On his expectations for the Eagles, he said:“Currently the Super Eagles have the best attack on the continent and I have evaluated the players, the situation and I want to win the AFCON, it’s my goal, my objective.“
He admitted that it is not going to be easy because there are other teams but his team want to fight to win the AFCON.
He stated that the Eagles’ group is not easy because hosts Côte d’Ivoire is one of the favourites due to their good squad and they are playing at home.
“Equatorial Guinea did better than Nigeria at the last AFCON, they got to the quarter-finals and Guinea-Bissau beat us at home (in the qualifiers).
“It’s going to be a tough tournament, a tough job for us because we need to put in focus everytime, every minute and every seconds in the match.”
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
