Former Nigerian international, Nduka Ugbade believes the Super Eagles winger, Ahmed Musa’s experience can’t be out of place in the senior national team as far as the African Cup of Nations is concern.
Ugbade made this known after Musa was named in the 40-man list of the Super Eagles that will prepare for 2023 AFCON.
Recall that the final 27-player squad will be announced by Coach Peseiro on January 3, 2024, just ten days before Nigeria’s opening match against Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan.
Reacting to Musa’s inclusion, Ugbade in a chat with Completesports.com stated that Musa could play the role of a sociologist and psychologist because he has seen it all and his experience will be crucial for the young players.
Read Also: AFCON 2023: Super Eagles’ 40-Man Provisional List Unveiled
“The inclusion of Ahmed Musa in the 40-man list of the Super Eagles is not out of place considering the fact that he’s a Nigerian. I have watched few of the goals he scored for his club, Sivasspor in the Turkish Süper Lig on youtube and I think he’s not doing badly at the moment.
“We can’t really rule out Musa’s experience in the senior national team knowing fully that he understand the whole atmosphere and should be able to guide the young players in the Super Eagles.
“Don’t forget that Messi despite his age led Argentina to win the World Cup and he’s still part of the team battling it out for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. His experience is what they are banking on regardless of his age. Mind you, he’s playing regularly with Inter Miami in the MLS.
“Likewise, Ronaldo who despite his age help Portugal to qualify for Euro 2024. He has been so instrumental in the team and nobody is talking about his club in Saudi Arabia because he’s playing week-in and week-out.
“Musa could play the role of a sociologist and psychologist because he has seen it all and his experience will be crucial for the young players. He’s like a team leader and will tell the players what to expect and how to handle whatever pressure that comes to them.
“Again, you should not forget that this is just a provisional list that will later be prone down to 23 or 26 players, and as you known anything can happen. He may be dropped or included in the final list that will be released.”
By Augustine Akhilomen
20 Comments
SUPER EAGLE CAN WIN NEXT AFCON BASE ON IF COACH PASEIRO CHOOSE PLAYERS BASED ON MERIT AND LEAVE OUT IRREGULAR, INCONSISTENT, BENCHWARMER PLAYERS OUT OF THE TEAM. He should not pick players base on EGO, SENIORITY OR EXPERIENCE(without fitness).
COMPLY WITH THIS DIRECTIONS, then winning AFCON 2024 IS GUARANTEE.
Another advice for PASEIRO is that, as super eagle has a lot of good forwards presently, as a technical man, there should an ALTERNATIVE POSITION CONVERSION. FOR Example:
** AKPOM can be converted as attacking midfielder OR supporting striker
** DESSERS can be converted as 7, 8, 11
** MOFFI, ORBAN, BONIFACE can play anywhere at the front as 7, 8, 9, 11
**
AND LASTLY, THERE ARE SOME OLD INCONSISTENT PLAYERS THAT NEEDED TO DROP OUT OF THE TEAM DUE TO LACK OF FORM/INJURY (E.G. Benzena, Aguero were dropped out of world cup cup due to injury that will last for ONE WEEK period)
When did musa became a prof in sociology. Ok dancing in camp and money donation ok and psychologist.abeg . It is better if u have said spiritualist.because even the game against Ghana in Abuja we all heard the profesy if “u put must in the game the game is gone “. And it happened. And the coach den did not no that his opponent had changed to 6 3 1 . Maybe if the seer had said the coach shud watch out for opponent style of play in the 75 mins .it would have been better. This not even the issue.historical paspective i remember the Olympic team of Ghana that dream team of Nigeria defeated in the qualifiers to win sliver in 2008 was the one that went to south Africa 2010 and in 2010 world cup Nigeria paraded 3 weak legs in every game .that means we had only 7 players and one keeper on the field per game . The rest is history. Ghana went far in the competition.we are talking about Musa now .don’t forget their some other legs like omeruo aribo and another iwobi we are looking at ,some local guys willing to hurt their legs against any African opponent are here not those that are thinking of 3months injury hiding legs .
Now is the time to call a spade a spade or else Nigeria wil still go on to carry weak legs to the next world cup that is even if dey qualify with the team listed . We all know those players that are performing presently in eagles… paceiro is acting like inec now .
Omeruo isn’t weak.He has shown in the colours of Nigeria whenever he was called upon.
He plays regularly for his club Kasimpasa S.K in Turkey,in fact he was made captain of his team for his good works on the pitch.He’s a big game player a solid and impregnable defender,his call up is well deserved.
Aribo isn’t a bad player,though had a rough patch but recently his form has snowballed,he played 90 mins this past weekend in their 4-0 annihilation of Blackborn was scored 7.1 in players rating which is quite imporessive.He has being a regular player recently for promotion chasing Southampton.
Aribo can play in multiple positions for the super eagles and he understands Peseiro’s philosophy,he has being part of his build up process from the beginning of his time as super eagles gaffer.
Aribo and Omeruo’s inclusion are well deserved.
WE NIGERIANS, ARE ALWAYS LIKE TO DECIEVING OURSELVES CONCERNING THE ISSUE OF LEADERSHIP, CAPTAINSHIP OR EXPERIENCE PLAYERS IN THE TEAM.
WHEN KESHI,OLISEH, YOBO, ENYEAMA,ZIDANE, MADINI, SERGIO-RAMOS ARE PLAYING, THEY ALL DID THEIR EXPERIENCE, CAPTAINSHIP, LEADERSHIP ON THE FIELD NOT “ON THE BENCH”.
PASEIRO SHOULD NOT DECIEVE HIMSELF BY TAKING AN OLD PLAYER (that is not in good form) TO AFCON, CLAIMING THAT HE IS A LEADER OR EXPERIENCED PLAYER, OR A CAPTAIN OF A TEAM.
BEFORE WORLD CUP, BENZEMA, AGUERO ARE REAL AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE PLAYERS THAN ANY OTHER PLAYERS & REAL LEADER IN FRANCE & ARGENTINA TEAM. THEY GOT INJURED BEFORE WORLD CUP (which means that they are unfit for first match). AND WITHOUT COMPROMISE (in respective of their reputations & achievements), THEY WERE DROPPED FOR WORLD CUP. BUT IF IT IS NIGERIA, THEY WILL SLOT THEM IN, CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCE PLAYERS.
** ANY PLAYERS THAT CANNOT MAKE ANY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE FIELD (not on the bench), SHOULD BE DROPPED.
IN AFCON 2000, IN NATIONAL STADIUM LAGOS NIGERIA WE NEVER FORGET SUNDAY OLISEH FOR HIS POSITIVE IMPACT HE MADE “ON THE FIELD” (not on the bench) AGAINST SENEGAL DESPITE HE WAS UNDERGOING MALARIA SICKNESS BEFORE THE MATCH. OLISEH ENTERED THE FIELD (despite his sickness) IN FEW MINUTES TO THE END OF THE MATCH, AND MADE DEADLY LONG PASS TO AGHAHOWA WHICH IT RESULT TO GOAL & LEADS TO RE-EQUALISING. WHICH MEANS SUNDAY OLISEH MADE HIS EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP & CAPTAINSHIP ON THE FIELD “NOT ON THE BENCH”
THAT IS THE REASON WHY SOME OF YOU ARE NOT MAKING IT AS A COACH.
** IN 1994 WORLD CUP, WHY COACH WESTERHOFF DROP YOU, DESPITE YOUR WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN SUPER EAGLE & AMONG AFCON 1994 WINNING TEAM.
WE SHOULD NOT BE DECIEVING OURSELVES CONCERNING UNFIT EXPERIENCE PLAYERS.
*** IN 2002 WORLD CUP, ROMARIO WAS DROPPED DESPITE HIS EXPERIENCE.
I am 98% sure Musa will make the final 27-man team and will be the captain, even though he may be a bit-part player at Afcon. It may not be entirely for footballing reasons, but that Number 7 short has been reserved for him until he retires (which he says would be after the 2026 World Cup).
Nigeria would be a partaker in the forthcoming AFCON not a contender,if the likes of Ahmed Musa makes the list.
Baring injuries it’s 100% certain Musa will be on the plane to Cote d’ivoire!!
Musa will be on the final list as Captain.
Musa inactive at his club side included in the provisional squad. How much joke can Nigeria be.
Lol thank GOD I erased my interest in any business that has to do with Nigeria since 25th Feb, 2023
You all have making sense, but I am very sure that Musa is the number one on the Afcon list. In reality, Musa should be dropped.
But when you don’t know when you should quit the national team and we all know how things are done in Nigeria. As long as it won’t affect those in form well, we have to be patient and continue fighting for those who merit the national team. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
The problem of Africa are Africans and the problem of Nigeria is definitely Nigerians
Please pray that none of these 4 players get injured before the tournament 1 ) Oshimen 2 ) Nwobi 3) Ndidi 4 ) Simon . These players hold the key to a good tournament.
Akpom guy and ifeanyi Mathew have been short changed! Igho ogbu was a policeman against As roma that mouriho called him out for praise! Central defence and midfield is Nigeria biggest problem, so those aforementioned players will surely be a disastrous miss to Nigeria. Clueless coach and dump NFF OFFICIALS. THEY MUST FIRSTLY DELETE THAT RECALCITRANT DENISE EMMANUEL FOR IFEANYI MATHEW! VERY USELESS COACH AND OUT OF DEPTH NFF@@!@@!
Musa ke? Kai! looooooooooooooooool!
Bastard Barawos! teehehehehehehehe
If I see Musa anywhere near that final list – then Nigeria is on their own! I will not only NOT watch but I will back another team to win it and I will never support Nigeria again until we have a new Manager and Musa is gone for good! SMH
Peserio is a typical Portuguese – they are the Nigerians of Europe. Thieving, Corrupt untrustworthy and morally bereft SOB’s Chaii!
Now that Nigerians have poured sand into the garri he was chopping from Calamity Frank’s salary and that egunje is no longer guaranteed, he has called back his other source of income and everyone knows how “generous” Mallam Musa is lol!
Mehn…Nigeria lool! These tools could not care 1 jot about that country or it’s future or reputation as long as they can carry on chopping their kobo kobo short term gains! SMH!!
Only provisional list o na em some people wan die.. if dem later later release the main list with musa name nko?
Haters!
Portuguese are the Nigerians of Europe. Hahaha!
O ma se ooo!
Invite this invite that but they couldn’t win Lesotho and Zimbabwe,Only Osigoal is irreplaceable others are bunch of average players, only the list don’t blame the coach Leon balogon ,Chidera Ejuke and co just picked form late,last time we invited Boniface, Awoniyi, Moffi and Umar but non could score against almighty Lesotho and Zimbabwe and you believe that other bunch of average players they didn’t invite would have scored what a nonsense,if you’re not Osigoal you’re irreplaceable so stop all this invite this invite that
It’s funny how a lot of people are accusing NFF and flopeiro ify corruption . na today. Watched an interview by taribo West the other day and he still feels pains of how NFF maltreated them, owed them salaries, caused division amongst the players and didn’t even provide training kits for them whilst Nigeria was at the Pinnacle of football. He even said NFF wanted them to fail so they could keep their monies and even caused many players early retirements who spoke up against the ill treatments of players. They haven’t changed. Imagine what would have been if they actually supported this guys. It’s sad but life goes on. Just watch the games but remember there’s a lot going on behind closed doors that affects this players performances. The older lads were mentally stronger and more united. Just support the lads. They are trying. The federation is shit and they know it.
Who among the average overhyped players is better than Musa? Musa will be that joker Nigeria needs to win the AFCON for the fourth time. Take it or leave it!