Jose Peseiro has invited 25 players ahead of the Super Eagles’ international friendly match with Algeria which comes up on Tuesday, 27 September, in Oran, <strong>Completesports.com
reports.The 25-man squad for the high profile friendly was published on the Super Eagles’ Twitter handle on Saturday.
The quartet of Wilfred Ndidi, Kevin Akpoguma, Chidera Ejuke and Maduka Okoye are making a return to the squad, while Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika gets a first call-up.
Other players invited for the friendly are skipper Ahmed Musa, Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Zaidu Sanusi, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Chidozie Awaziem and Moses Simon.
Also Read: Algeria Coach Belmadi Lists Mahrez, Bennacer, Bentaleb 21 Others For Super Eagles Friendly
Also listed Kelechi Iheanacho, Henry Onyekuru, Terem Moffi, Cyriel Dessers, Alex Iwobi, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Frank Onyeka and Kenneth Omeruo.
Algeria will host the Eagles inside the Stade Olympique d’Oran.
The Eagles will be looking for their first win against Algeria since 2016, when they beat the North Africans 3-1 in Uyo during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Since then, Algeria has won the last three meetings between the two countries.
Recall both countries failed to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
While Black Stars of Ghana stopped the Eagles, Algeria lost out to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
By James Agberebi
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COMMENTS
How I wish it is a two legged affairs but this one one den wil chop it . Second leg could be balance game.
They wil chop it… Like the 10 0 dey won last time dey played.
Eagles wil chop it . I repeat eageles win chop belly full for Algeria hand .
UNA don start with una MOUTH…
Na so UNA talk before TUNISIA B TEAM with a COACH on I.T(INDUSTRIAL TRAINING) come HUMBLE una…
I said eagles wil lose this match .. with wide margin .they are not prepared for the game
NICE LIST..(EXPERIENCE MUSA is there)
Though I was expecting to see IGHALO too..
But hopefully, PESEIRO will consider INVITING for the AFCON PROPER (IVORY COAST)
I wrote in one of my posts that it’s better to introduce players bit by bit,but like most times i got little support for that but the coach has vindicated me.
Raphael Onyedike or Alhassan Yusuf but not both.
Yusuf will get an invite soon and deservedly so.
Meanwhile,looking at the list it’s a balanced squad.Leon Balogun is back playing for one of the richest clubs in Europe.Akpoguma is in great shape his team is in fine form too,Onyekuru is back to his best not surprised to see his name on the list.Musa was in great form in our last internationals,in fact I was astonished by his fantastic performance in Sao Tome and Principe.Since then I changed my opinion about him,now he’s playing in the Europa League a lot is expected from skippo.
I don’t think many would fault the list,a good one.
I can only wish them good-luck against Algeria and going forward.
Aribo? Hope no problem? He was dropped against São Tomé and now, he’s not on the list. The list is good but surely, we fans will surely have things to say. Alina won’t be playing next competitive game so I expected Ebuehi to be called up. Anyways , let me wait and see what our coach is up to this time
Super eagles is playing just one game not 2,I think Aribo’s name is missing because the coach prefers Raphael Onyedike instead.
Remember in our last game against Sao Tome and Principe Aribo was benched.The coach has seen him play under him a few times,I don’t think Aribo cut it for him,I’m not sure.
The likes of Ekong and a few others who are seeing few games in Europe might have made the list owing to the fact the position they’re playing might not be as competitive as the midfield where Aribo plays,my opinion though.
Why is Joe Aribo left out
This list must be a joke !!
Players that have played less than 30 minutes get picked ahead of more active ones..
How many minutes have Okoye, Uzoho, Ekong, Balogun,Omeruo played this season ?
Aribo dropped ?
Aribo has played more minutes and performed better than those selected for the same position..
Alhassan has performed better than those selected ahead of him..
Balogun played full 90 minutes during the week and was fantastic.. He deserves it.
I think we should start inviting players based on current form.. players who sit on the bench regularly should be dropped.. someone like Ekong and onyeka should have been dropped, they hardly get game time with their team.. I agree that players should be integrated gradually into the team but not seeing a Yusuf and an aribo in the team is actually a sad news especially a Yusuf who has been playing consistently for his team..
Good team and success to the team
I agreed with you, my question now is what is Henry onyekuru doing in that list?
Henry has never been productive when it comes to the national team.
Please know cause for alarm the coach is working he his picking is players,
The list leaves you scratching your head. The coach needs to pay attention to the central defense as it is not only aging but some are bench warmers. Aribo’ s game is not expansive enough and that limits the team. Onyedika is a better tackler and a much more expansive range with his passes. Why would Ekong be invited ? Other than that , I think it is a fair list.
Yeah I’m guessing there’s some NFF interference in this squad list. I won’t say much before I get attacked. Why didn’t they invite the Blackpool FC defender since the team is now filled with division Old division 2 defenders? …..Balogun is not going to be around for too long at 34…Peseiro should be using these friendlies to induct new players. The likes of Omeruo, Ekong, Balogun should have replacements by now. All championship and div 2 players…..but people here will say experience why hasn’t their experience got them a job at a top club?
It’s a good list; I hope they play well.
I’m excited to see Adeleye, Akpoguma and Onyedika on the list. However, it’s sad Aribo would be missing. He’s had more game time this season than most midfilders in the SE.
I think we have got a lot of exciting youngsters in the team with likes of Onyedika, Bassey, Osimhen, Lookman, Chukwueze… Many of whom are in their early 20s. Sadly, the SE will not be in Qatar. It’s hoped that the experience of senior players like Omeruo and Balogun of QPR would be able to guide the team at this period. With the lean midfield, I feel Nwakali and Alhassan should have made the team, both are decent midfield players in good form. It’s popular knowledge that Troost Ekong is find game time hard to come by even at relegated Watford, his non invitation would not have come as a surprise but to include him in the list for the tie at the expense of Ajayi is very unfair. A certain Olisa Ndah was invited early this year for the AFCON and he would have been a good addition.
Dennis is missing but Henry makes the list. What a huge contrast!
Dennis is a massive forward both as a winger and a striker. I haven’t seen Henry Onyekuru in recent time at club level but hope he justifies his inclusion. Chidera Ejuke and Awoniyi will both be excited with their callup after the AFCON. I’m sure they’ll be hoping to make this invitation count with impactful showing in the absence of team’s top striker, Osimhen and Umar, the Real Sociedad new sensation, both out injured.
Ahead of the game, In form Terem Moffi and serie A new signing, Cyriel Dessers are favoured to lead the attack. Moffi has so far scored 6 league goals. One hopes he gets the much needed supply from the Iwobi inspired midfield after his impressive showing for Everton lately in the new season.
My friend, Ajayi is injured! Nwakali does not yet deserve a call-up. While he is a great passer of the ball, he does not tackle and cannot press. I prefer Ejuke in his current form to Dennis who is now a benchwarmer at relegation-threatened Forest.
God bless you bro. Exactly my point.
Ajayi is injured.
I have no complaints about the squad. I think as usual Nigeria does not allocate enough places for midfielders and allocates too many places for forwards. There should be at least 6 places for midfielders and the places for forwards should come down to 8 from the current 10.
This is what we did against Ghana when we ran out of midfield players and Shehu Musa was playing in midfield.
I even think Aribo deserves to be dropped because that guy doesn’t know his best position. He is not a passer of the ball, when he dribbles he doesn’t carry the ball forward he holds it up, and his pressing and tackling are below par. Onyedika is a much better replacement in midfield.
The only sadness is we will be without Osimhen, who when supplied with passes and crosses is devastating.
Don’t let us conclude that the coach didn’t invite some players you wish to see on the list (Aribo and the likes), they might have excused themselves from the list just to concentrate on their club football to find their place especially after the international break.
Some of them just moved to another club and they may want to use this period to settle down well and seal a place for themselves in their clubs.
I agree with Larry and Ololo; I think Peseiro must recall players on current good form and strength, aggression, gentility, interction on their clubs just like Alhassan Yusuf, Joe Aribo, Josh Maja who had 5 goals on Ligue One with Bordeauax, Yir Sor , Moses Usor, Egoh Ugoba; why did he recall shaky and un active players at their clubs like William Troost, Maduka Okoye, Frank Onyeka , Keleche Iheanacho , Emmanuel Dennis, Chidra Ejuke , Francis Uzoho? all thoes players are reserves at their clubs somtimes they play only between 30 to 15 minutes, somtimes they do not play some matches at their clubs. So I recommend Peseiro that you should not committ the same mistakes which ex coach Gernot Rhor was committing on Super Eagles which have cost him so much; these mistakes Rhor had committed as follow: he was recalling weak and shaky players at small clubs, recalling unactive players who were not in forma at their clubs, recalling with sentimation by adivsory of his bad assitants, recalling by NFF intervention, the evidence why did Rhor leave Oboabona and recalled shaky William Troost, recalled shaky Etebo and bad Frank Onyeka then excluded Alhassan Ibrahim, Anderson Esiti, Frank Onyedika also excluded Nwakali an excellent passer; veteran passed coach Stephen Kechi had made big overhaul on Super Eagles when he had won 2013 Afcon. Cup champoinship in South Africa, he had excluded most of an old SE gaurd like Obafemi Martins,Taye Taiwo, Obinna Nwaneri, Victor Obinna, Osaze Odemwingie, Chidi Odiah, Julius Aghahowa ,Omoreigbe, Sani Kaita had changed them with new players who had interaction , agression, ferociouness, will to do somthing then he had won 2013 Afcon. Cup in South Africa, look at this successful experiment by ambious coach like Kechi and his excellent coaching crew like Daniel Amokache, Ike Shoronmu.
The squad is decent to me.. Ekong is starting today for Watford, he is an experienced defender for us.. why drop him for an unknown who might not even be at his level.. we honestly do not much option in defense.. the Blackpool guy is average, and except the Fulham guy agrees to play for Nigeria , I don’t see any other player who can do better than what we have, valentine in french second division is also not playing regularly for his club.. as we build for the future let’s not forget the older players with their experience as they can guide the younger players into how we play in Nigeria..
Sad for aribo, Etebo was way better in our last games and he has had his chances let’s see other players..
Yusuf will get his chance.. it’s just a single game, for now let’s see what onyedika can do..
I’m happy for desser, with the absence of oshimen and Sadiq this is another opportunity for him to show what he can do.. he now understands how we play and must have learnt his mistakes in our past matches..
Congratulations to awoniyi , Henry onyekere and ejuke, let’s see what they can do , if they don’t perform there know that there is a Denis, success Issac, olayinka, and Godwin savior waiting to take their place
My guy forget Dennis. He’s not even on for. For NF. Dennis this, Dennis that. That guy is average. Accept am
where is the list abi my eye is decieving me
My only reservation is the inclusion of Onyekuru. The list has six wingers and four midfielders, it would have made more sense to invite Aribo if he was available or even Okereke. Seeing Akpoguma and Onyedika made me happy. Good luck to the team.
Quite an un-unusual list.
So we sacked Rohr, lost over N200m in compensation, got rewarded with our worst AFCON placing in 40years, failled to qualify for the WC and lost $20m in World cup qualification earnings only to come back to this…….LMAOoo.
Ndi Rohr is loyal to certain players….Ndi how can Rohr invite only 5 midfielders…..Ndi Rohr is not encouraging competition, he should be inviting 11 new players every international window…..ngwanu make una run come see something o…..LMAOoo.
Some people should just learn to shut their gutters and allow coaches to do their jobs in peace rather than wailing endlessly and forcing negatitivy-induced knee-jerk enforced stalling of our football.
Absolutely @Dr Drey. I and I will always leave the coach to do his job. Heaven bless Peseiro. We should leave him to do his job well.
Dr drey I am surprised you are still talking about rohr. Can’t you leave that guy alone. He dey pay you allowance.
Oga stop this Rohr rants….that decision or mistake or whatever u want to call it has been made for some time now….we have to move on from it. Moreover, Rohr wasn’t that spectacular. I agree, he would have probably qualified us for WC, but man!, that’s in the past now. You and that Monkey Post really have to stop….it’s really becoming annoying please.
When I saw the list having awaziem in Croatia and Henry onyekwre and an akpugoma I thought if our coach consulted rohn before producing this list.. aside onyedika these are all rohn’s players.. and why the coach decided to stick with all the rohn’s faithfuls shows the previous coach knew what the fans didn’t know
@OLOLO this your WRITE UP that seems to be PAINTING GENERAL ROAH in GOOD LIGHT, will never make up for all you guys EVIL COMMENTS here that CONTRIBUTED in the SACK of the GOOD MAN…
So STOP it….
WE know ourselves…
I never supported the sacking of rohr.. those who did are enemies of our team and we are suffering from it.. but we must move further and support our new coach
Yes yes..
WELDONE COMRADE
You are one of us…
I was even SKEPTICAL when REPLYING to your COMMENTS… Was not very sure then.. but now I remember
I am sure the nff are influencing this coach or he is also collecting bribe from some of them. Musa is still in the team,bulk of the players are mostly playing in second devision. Can’t see any home base players not even one, is the coach not meant to develop our league? Wailing wailers where are you?
I was wondering if Chelsea’s new coach will drop all the players tuchel used!
This forum just tire me. Is just filled with bunch of unfaithful people, can you imagine.
Where is Joe Aribo in the list ?
Sentiments and tribalism removed Aribo. Onyekuru the jester is preferred.
How do you invite a perennial bench warming ONYEKA ahead of a regular starter; ALHASSAN YUSUF?
How do you invite ONYEKURU ahead of OLAYINKA?? In over 10 caps I can’t remember any GOAL CREATING/ASSIST from ONYEKURU but in 1 match OLAYINKA created 2 big chances for SADIQ and MOSES SIMON which were fluffed.
What is OMERUO doing on that list when we can invite BLACKPOOL defender or IGHO OGBU??
Why drop a regular playing ARIBO?? Unless he excused himself, no justification
Meanwhile NFF should begin in earnest the process of fast tracking SHAWN ADEWOYE, a decent CB who plays for FC WALWIRCK (hope I got the spelling right) in Holland
Leave the coach to do his job. Una don start again.. let your Yusuf come to the EPL and we will see if he won’t chop bench..
I agree Yusuf is a good player but you don’t destroy the foundation of your team to invite all fresh players.. gradually Yusuf will be integrated to the team . It is a matter of time
My only problem with the list is that our coach seems to have forgotten that we need an extra right back to assist ola aino.. ola will be absent when we resume competitive games next year and we must find a player to replace him.. akpugoma and awaziem are not regular right backs, we need a right back so badly,, ebuehi is injured and has not played for months.. there is a certain Samuel in fernabche turkey and I wonder why we can’t give him a chance in our team
LMFAO…
GENERAL ROAH doesn’t know how to make a LIST…
HE doesn’t know how to SELECT PLAYERS..
HE is FAVOURING some over some…
NGWA NU….
LMFAO!!!!!
If the coach could consider Onyedika, there was no reason for him to ignore Alhassan Yusuf who has performed better in the same league with many accolades.
It’s been reported that the boy name was on the submitted list but someone in the nff removed his name.
Imagine Aribo not on the list but bench warmers in the same league i.e Onyeka and Nacho were selected.
Okoye ha not played a single match this season, Uzoho has played just a single match in the league, Ozonwafor is a bench warmer for ligue 2 team, Olayinka has been terrific for his club but he was not considered..
Picnic has turned the SE to his property.
Don’t blame the coach, Bassey and other tribal elements in the technical committee gave the coach this lists.Let them continue to invite all the Onyes , living out Alhsaan, Olayinka and Aribo is pure madness, some clowns talking about letting the coach do the job, which job, we should allow him to parade bunch of mediocre players, players selected based on sentiments and tribalism.
DEFEATING THE MOTIVE FOR INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
When they hid the list from fans for a period longer than necessary, I knew something fishy was going on behind the scene. I’m sure this is not Jose Peseiro’s list. If it was Peseiro that released the list,then those people at the NFF in their usual characteristics may have tampered with the list. Royal Antwerp of Belgium and FC Sochaux of France had acknowledged the invitations of Alhassan Yusuf and Valentine Ozornwafor respectively even before the list was made public,only for the two players to be omitted when they eventually decided to release the list. Joe Aribo may have offended someone at the NFf hence his snub.I concur with those who deem Leon Balogun ageing at 34,Chidozie Awaziem is in the less fancied Croatian league,Semi Ajayi is injured and with the unstable William Troost-Ekong as well as Kenneth Omeruo in the second division in Spain,the Super Eagles central defence is now the weakest link in the team.Players like Marvin Ekpiteta,Osaze Urhoghide,Ayo Obileye,Izuchukwu Anthony,Igoh Ogbu,Junior Pius,Bruno Onyemaechi,Michael Ologo,Michael Ihiekwe,Joshua Akpudje should have been tried or we could fastrack the nationality switches of Caleb Okoli,Tunji Akinola,Jonas David,Felix Uduokhai,Tosin Adarabioyo,Jordan Torunarigha,Dominic Iorfa etc.
Since the Super Eagles have no immediate competitive engagement till March,2003,these two friendly games with Algeria and Portugal should have been used to groom and run the rule on fresh players who can replace the ageing,off-form and injured ones as other countries are doing. But Jose Peseiro and those at the NFF have other plans! May God help us.
**Can This Latest Super Eagles Squad Batter Algeria?**
It is safe to say that the recently released Super Eagles squad to face familiar foes Algeria in a high profile friendly hasn’t particularly lit up the box office of public opinion.
Having failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the first to take place near Christmas and in the Middle East , Nigeria now shift their focus towards building for the future with a string of friendly matches – one of which will be against the Fennec Foxes of Algeria on the 27 of September in the 24k capacity Oran Olympic stadium in Algeria.
I had expected a squad that would offer a glimpse into the future of the Super Eagles but what we have is retention of the status quo. Many fans continue to speculate that coach Peseiro is being influenced in squad selections but no concrete evidence of this has emerged.
That said, the inclusion of players struggling for game-time ahead of others inundated with plentiful time on the pitch of club football raises the eyebrow. But in truth, no Super Eagles list in the history of Nigerian football has won universal fans-approval – we just always have to take it or leave it.
That said, this Super Eagles squadron selected to conquer Algeria for the third time of asking since 2019 does have its issues outside those players that are excluded.
In unpacking this we can deduce the following:
– 67% of the three goalkeepers are fully paid up members of their clubs’ benchwarmers association. The only goalkeeper seeing healthy game-time (Adebayo Adeleye) is untested and unproven in international football. Other available goalkeepers are either homebased or playing in average-to-mediocre leagues. Nigeria needs to start producing more credible goalkeepers.
– The centre back department is a collection of well established error-prone defenders. Ekong, Omeruo and Awaziem have been fully inducted into the Hall of Fame of Potential Calamity Performers.
That said, the inclusion of Akpoguma and Bassey does offer mild reassurance as they have been known to moonlight in that department.
– Only a meagre 25% of the midfield make up consists of a fresh face. This department has arguably been a sore thumb of the Super Eagles in recent times with a scarcity of creative, cunning, crafty and janus-faced options. Iwobi and Ndidi have been the trailblazers for quite some time and their absences often felt.
Onyeka hasn’t particularly won over doubters (I like him though) and uninvited Aribo hasn’t particularly grasped the nettle for the Super Eagles in that department.
Nigeria’s midfield needs an overhaul.
– A whole 40% of the invited strikers are yet to register a single league goal across a total of 21 games this season. These are Musa, Chukwueze, Dessers and Ejuke.
A total of 15 goals across 61 league games from all the invited strikers return a poor 24% goals conversation data. The likes of Moffi and Simon have to be applauded though as they contributed 6 and 3 league goals respectively across 13 league games between them (a joint conversation rate of a healthy 69%).
In totality, very few teams will be scared of a team of strikers with a 24% goals conversion rate and a goals to games ratio of 1:4.
But in all I remain quite excited about the list.
It will be great to see Adeleye given game time. I would like to see Akpoguma and Bassey paired in centre defence with Onyedika hopefully making his debut in midfield.
Onyekuru has much to prove and he remains a bundle of talent while Moffi is on course to start establishing himself as a true quality centre forward for club and country.
If properly primed with the compelling cutting edge rehearsed routine from Peseiro and proper motivation from the NFF, this same group of players have it in them to restore some pride for the Super Eagles confraternity against Algeria in this coming friendly.
Great analysis @_deo . The pairing of Kevin Akpoguma and Calvin Bassey in the Super Eagles Central Defense is a juicy and delicious option. Akpoguma can also thrive in the left back position. Bassey on his part is naturally left-footed and and an excellent left back though he sometimes plays as a central defender at club level. However ,Sanusi is available and can be deployed there in the Algerian game and nothing stops Peseiro from then fielding Akpoguma and Bassey as Central defenders.
Thanks Hilary!
Deo don’t forget these players that look like old players and status quo players in our eyes will be looking as new players to a new coach.. he hasn’t coached them for a long time and still do not know their abilities on a personal level.. more new players will come but why throw away players with experience that you haven’t seen much..
This was why he left aribo ,, very disappointing in our last games.. pesiro wants to see the old boys, he wants to confirm he what he heard are actually true.. any of the old boys that didn’t perform ( eg aribo) will be dropped and new players will be invited.. that was why there was no space for Yusuf. He wants to see onyeka of Brentford, if he fails to perform Yusuf will be called..
Either the list was tampered with or someone sent out early invitations without consulting with the coach. Because according to Antwerp, Yusuf was invited and later cancelled. Also, Lorient confirmed Bonke’s invitation on the club’s website…lol.
@Ololo, was the coach at Alaska all this while? We all criticised Eguavoen when he infamously said he hasn’t seen dessers play, now you are making excuses for him using the same reason. Do you think he did not see the SE matches at afcon? I do not think that is the reason. This list has NFF written all over it.
Well said @Deo. God bless you more. Moreso, we don’t even hear about Ejaria and co anymore but I believe the new coach have no choice but to give new and talented young players a chance to compliments our strikers and entire team efforts. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Thanks Omo9ja. Much respect.
Good list though. All the players can not play at the same time and also, it is a friendly match and if the invited players don’t improve and impress the coach, they might not get another chance.
Hmmmm. At this stage, Oga Rohr followers still talking about their boss but forgetting that, Oga Rohr Super Eagles was horribly embarrassed lately before he was sacked.
Simply put, our former world class coach, Oga Rohr deserves to be fired period. Let’s move on my people.
We should not expect Oga Paseiro to scrap the current team. If you are expecting that to happen then football doesn’t work like that.
Oga Rohr used Sunday Oliseh team and he built on that and now according to Oga Rohr followers, Oga Paseiro is using Oga Rohr’s team.
They might be right though but same team, different mentality and strategy may be the difference between both gaffers.
Let’s call a spade a spade, Oga Rohr was not better during his time with Eagles but average.
The current coach, Oga Paseiro haven’t convinced me yet. I want to see his clear picture against Tunisia and Portugal.
However, I’m very happy to see my lovely Dessers, Adeleye and Akpoguma names on this list.
Aribo, Osimeh and co will join the team against Portugal.
Don’t expect too much from Super Eagles against Tunisia because, Eagles is not well prepared for the match because of the time frame.
All in all, Super Eagles will give their best. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
@Omo9ja, I think we are playing the Desert foxes and not the carthage eagles.
Thank you for pointing that out @Golden Child. I meant to say Algeria
not Tunisia. One love my man. God bless Nigeria!!!
Let me just drop it here…..
First of I’m sorry for coming late.
Please can someone convince me this isn’t ROHR?
BHUAHAHAHAHAHAHA……
OGA ROHR REMOVE THAT MASK, WE ALL KNOW YOU ARE ROHR NOT PIESERO.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
BUT BUT BUT….
WHAT ARE THEY SMOKING IN THAT GLASS HOUSE?
THEY GOT ROHR FIRED ONLY TO EMPLOY ROHR.
Why should he be employed when your funny NFF sacked him but are still paying him because of their foolishness. He is without a job but not without continued payment, what a blessing.