Jose Peseiro has explained how the Super Eagles’ 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.“
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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 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), 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 in Abu Dhabi for six days for where we will be involve 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.
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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 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.”
19 Comments
As long as you chose the team and there was no interference. You have accepted total responsibility for this team selection. You have been provided practice matches and a suitable camping ground in the UAE. Now, it is up to you to show your ‘famed’ tactical knowledge.
So no excuses!
Absolutely, Tristan.
Jose Peseiro will aim to prove doubters wrong.
Okay coachie, say know more, nice Uve come out to defend the list with your full chest, we won’t accept any complain from you after the AFCON.
Personally I don’t have issue with the coach picking 25players instead of the 27 permitted by CAF as even from the 25 players, it will be miracle if 20 of them play at all during the entire competition.
Only if we manage 6pts from our first two opening game we would have chance to see more players involve, so if the coach said he prefer 25 players, so be it as it will as well be expense reduction as well, all I need is just a good performance from the boys and possibly bring home the cup.
Are we saying out of more than 200 million population we could only present 5 players in the midfield for AFCON. It is obvious this list is politically motivated. Nigerian system is politicised in all the ramifications, I am not a prophet of doom but I would be surprised if Nigeria goes past the group stage with this Kwashiokor midfield
That midfield though too slim, but I feel peseriro system is to compliment his midfield with the wingers, that’s where the likes of Simon Moses and kel comes in plus VB can easily play the AM as a 10, that boy gat good ball work, see all we could do now as a fan is to Sidon look ooo and wish them best of luck.
He could have taken ogbelu onuche and blend him into the team for the future. Most people do not know Ronaldo de Lima was part of the all conquering USA 94 squad but watching from the bench. Love him or hate him, Gernot Rohr did same with Victor Osimhen in the 2018 afcon and today , look at the lad.
Ogbelu has not been part of the team under Peseiro. Calvin Bassey and Onyedika are under 25 years old. So also is Onyemaechi and Boniface so we have future stars in the team.
If Ogbelu goes and doesn’t make an appearance, what difference would his inclusion have been with that of Ahmed Musa?
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That said, this shows Oga Paseiro’ s capability and to go by what he said. He does not have what it takes to select the best 27-man list.
NFF hired him to do his job, and if he failed, then he got sacked.
He would have said to NFF that NFF he had been hired to do his job, and if he failed, then he got sacked. He followed NFF by picking 25 man list instead of 27 man list? Kai.
This is why Westerhof is still the best Super Eagles ever had. Nobody can try this with him.
So you did not know Nwabali and never saw any of his local videos before he left for South Africa?
Now, my question is, how can he trust a goalkeeper that he has never tested?
The gaffer will now realize his mistakes while he would have used Nwabali in those friendlies Super Eagles had against Saudi Arabia and the other team.
I am not here to teach you your job but to support you but the bitter truth must be told, NFF have plugged your downfall and you allowed them to because, how can you have two aggressive strikers on the pitch at the same time?
Osimhen and Boniface are too aggressive, and if our opponents study the two strikers and notice that Iwobi is the engine of the Super Eagles, then you are in trouble.
If I were you, Oga Paseiro, I would take Nwakali and Dessers with me. I will talk to NFF if you truly want me to win the Afcon trophy, then allow me to do my job.
But the gaffer still has a few days to change his mind though.
In this case, I will not ask the gaffer to take Onuachu and Moffi because they have been given chances upon chances to claim their sports in the Super Eagles, but they did not make use of it.
In Nwakali and Dessers case, we all know their qualities, and no doubt, if given a chance, they will make Super Eagles compact and balanced.
A word is enough for the wise. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Wo leave this man u kept on shooting nwakalj and dresser. They can even Der and they perform poorly people like u will come and change story
He has chosen what he wanted so let it be if u keep shouting these 2 players till tomorrow nothing Will change as matter of fact he did not even know ubhave Said something. Case close the matter pls
Guys face d truth this man called pesiro is ignorantly stubborn n giving us calculated speech all the time
My people Afcon no b child’s play that somebody like pesiro who have never won any tournament before will just come n win brothers is Afcon that cheap?he is just playing with some people psycho telling them what the want to hear cos Amaju pinnick has already given him that orientation before,let’s just keep our fingers crossed and enjoy d competition
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YEYE DEY SMELL!!
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After this month, we would say good bye. A senseless coach who couldn’t take 27 players to AFCON. Meaning CAF is stupid to request for 27 players? NFF is the one that destroyed our football. That coach is not good enough to handle a team like Nigeria.
Super Eagles problem is lack of determination and too much respect for big players and we don’t like to show up in tough games only like to play friendly and cool and go home with trophy. The time for easy game is over and u have to be strong and careful before you can win this time
Wilfred is reporting to camp injured. One of our 5 midfielders is injured even before the start of the tournament. May Nigeria succeed.
The evident lack of foresight within the NFF is becoming embarrassingly clear. With only five midfielders for a competition we hope to participate in for at least a month, it’s puzzling why two spaces out of the 27 players granted by CAF were deliberately left vacant. This oversight means that if two midfielders are unable to play due to injury or suspension, we’ll only have three available, and in a scenario where two of them are already on the field, there’d be no viable midfield substitution left on the bench, potentially forcing the coach to improvise by fielding a striker. Even though players like Nwakali, Ifeanyi, and Alhassan were available and ready, they were overlooked in favor of inactive Musa and inconsistent Sadiq. It’s frustrating that despite better options, these choices were made. Critically, this reflects the unfortunate state of our FA, run by seemingly corrupt, insensitive, and incompetent individuals. Gasau’s decisions, reminiscent of a very terrible Anaju Pinnick, have consistently been questionable, spanning issues from the Falcons saga, Waldrum’s departure, mishandling junior teams’ camps, Peseiro’s contract extension, player selections, bonus management, to neglecting school sports. It’s disheartening; we seem to be heading for trouble under this administration.
Pisseiro everyother country is selecting 27 men you that need it most only select 25.
And for goodness sake is it when England or France Cap Olise that Nigeria we learn we need him. Imagine. Would it not have made sense to at least have a midfielder like him and then Give Orban a chance even if it is to sit on bench and learn and play dead rubber matches
But no Musa is Bigger than Nigeria we are more happy to appease Musa Nd the Northers by including his dead leg so the world cN see Hausa man is captain of the team than Nigeria to plan for the future mumu country.
We just need to fold our arms and hope for the best.JP and NFF have made their decisions at the end of the day, they’re going to be held accountable for any eventualities in AFCON.
Sadly, we left out some decent midfielders who could have helped shore up the midfield where we’ve shortage of personnel and quality and still wondering how the strike force led by Victor Osimhen will get adequate supplies from the midfield that’s short of quality.
We just remain hopeful.
The Nigerian supporters club plan to storm Cote d’Ivoire for the AFCON with at least 300 fans to cheer on the players and I hope the players as well as the coaches will also give the supporters club something to cheer about during the competition. The supporters club have always remained dedicated and passionate and dogged, singing, dancing and drumming in the stands tirelessly. This patriotism must also be seen in the players on the field play, giving the best and seeing their selection as an opportunity to serve.
What was his reason for not calling up 26 players at least include an extra midfielder Kelechi Nwakali since its too late for Olise now. I mean what is wrong with Nigeria Football sense of reasoning
Nigeria will not go anywhere in this AFCON. Why ?, because, no Orban. Ndidi is injured and yet, he is included in the team. Uzohobasket is still there.