Former Kwara United coach, Samson Unuanel has lauded the Super Eagles list that will face Ecuador and Mexico in an international friendly game.
On Monday, Head coach, Salisu Yusuf listed 30 players, including eight home-based professionals, excluding the foreign-based duo of Odion Ighalo and Kelechi Iheanacho, for upcoming international friendlies.
Recall that the three–time African champions will clash with CONCACAF powerhouse Mexico at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, State of Texas on Saturday, 28th May, before flying to New Jersey to tackle Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday, 2nd June.
Reacting to the list, Unuanel in a chat with Completesports.com stated that he’s delighted with the inclusion of eight Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players for the encounter.
“I am very delighted with the list of players invited to the Super Eagles for the game against Ecuador and Mexico.
” It’s a mixture of the foreign and home based players which I think is very impressive. However, I will be happy if the players are giving enough time on the field of play.
“This is the way forward if we must restore the glory days of the Super Eagles again.”
See the full squad below;
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Isa Ali (Remo Stars); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau United)
Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United); Babatunde Afeez Nosiru (Kwara United); Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey); Samson Tijani (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Victor Mbaoma (Enyimba FC); Ishaq Rafiu (Rivers United)
15 Comments
I HOPE NOBODY PAY BRIBE AMONG THE HOMEBASE PLAYERS BEFORE THEY GET INVITATION
Thumbs up coach Salisu. At least we are sure of Afcon-2023 game. Super luck, SE!!!
@P.A:
Your mouth tear but we will struggle to deny it. Since we couldn’t win that other one in Cameroon, we will win right here. I have been the fan canvassing for the inclusion of home base players and actually having the entire S.E team domesticated to reflect the local content policy of the present government.
#SoarSE
Thanks fan. I had the rare opportunity to have watched Victor Mbaoma and Ishaq, these local chaps are good as banknotes. I also hated the idea of appointing a foreign coach at this age of our country life. Yusuf has always been a good coach having cut part of his teeth under coach Eguavoen tutelage. Go se.
@ife,
I have also been looking up those lads names, I mean the guys invited from the npfl. I must confess I am particularly impressed by what I saw of Ishaq Rafiu, Afeez Nosiru and Chiamaka Madu. Particularly this Madu guy seems to have some creativity in him. He may just need a good coach to give him the confidence to chill and bambam with the big boys in the SE. I saw this vid of him.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Or5HVZnfIKI
Besides being an old tape and aged player, nothing much to it though the boys occasional ego massage. Remember SE is supposed to be campaigning for next year meet, Afcon.
@Ife…No wonder nff hasn’t been able to appoint a foreign coach. Matter of fact, the inclusion of 8 local players is a masterclass decision that coach Yusuf and Salisu accepted. And also appreciate the input of our Technical Director, Eguavoen who started it all in this current dispensation.
My one kobo is just to advise the super eagles coach to ensure all the 8 domestic players are featured in the matches. Other things aside, we need to see more local engagement which is of course the reason why they are on the trip. God bless Nigeria.
I was hoping Salisu recalls Usman Mohammed and Anderson Esiti because they are combative and strong defensive midfielders who can solve Super Eagles lack of defensive problem; so I think on Sierra Leon match Salisu must recall them and leave Etebo and Abdullahi Shehu out of the squad because they are so shaky and weak defensive midfielder.
Oga U still dey 2015 when Lt.keshi was still around bcos d players U mentioned haven’t been in d SE since then y U no say make him call Ukoh Monday or Madu Kingsley this team is our best legs for now long live the SE.
Go se.
Unuane is top notch. Meanwhil6, you over there have the potential to become an objective commenter only don’t include tribalism. Keep it up. Up SE! God bless Nigeria!!
I would’ve decoded the coach.. HAHAHAHA. Ivory coast2023 is a game changer for the Super Eagles who out of a common mistake won’t be in the World Cup. Very well that Yusuf Salisu invited local players as that would serve as encouragement to other national league players. Kudos Salisu.
What Yusuf has done is good. Our foreign based players have not been able to use their playing prowess where it matters most. I wish this new set of thinking success. We as fans have accepted to render objective and constructive reportage.
LMFAO… So you think…The league players are good but might not be the strong footed for A games.. lolo!