Valentine Ozornwafor has been called up for Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone and the Dodos of Mauritius.
Ozornwafor, 22, will link up with the team in Abuja when they return from the United States of America.
Belgian Pro League club Sporting Charleroi confirmed the centre-back’s Invitation for the qualifiers.
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“Our African internationals will play several qualifying matches for the next African Cup of Nations,” reads a statement on the club’s official website.
“Valentine Ozornwafor, selected with Nigeria, will face Sierra Leone before traveling to Mauritius.”
The defender has been capped once at the senior level by Nigeria.
The former Enyimba player was first called up to the full side in March 2019, for a friendly game against Seychelles and Egypt, but was only an unused substitute.
Ozornwafor debuted with Nigeria in a 1–0 friendly loss to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in June 2021.
The former Almeria star has also represented Nigeria at the U-20 level. He featured at the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Ozornwafor has also played for the Nigeria U-23 team in the past.
Read Also: Super Eagles Step Up Preparation For Ecuador, Sierra Leone, Mauritius
The Super Eagles will open their AFCON 2023 qualifying campaign against Sierra Leone at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on June 9.
Jose Peseiro’s side will face Mauritius four days later in St Pierre.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
They should invite Opkoguma as well.
After ndidi and oshimen this guy is the next hottest local talent to come out from Nigeria..
I expect him in a big club soon
Very bold claim by you Sir, he did look decent during the friendlies against cameroon.
Haha? What about those two defenders from NPFL? Hmmm..this man is romancing with sack letter.
Nice 1. Val is ok.
Akpoguma nko?
Also, Anthony Izuchukwu continues to be left out. This guy can play as a center back or as a DM.
With Balogun aging, and Ekong out of sorts, the coaches should be looking at Akpoguma, Ndah and Izuchukwu for possible selection.
If we have Ajayi, Awaziem, Val, Izuchukwu, Ndah and Akpoguma available for selection, that’s enough talents to cover our center back needs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcvQV66mfSY
Of Al adem, Anthony n Akpoguma, are my pick. But I fear Akpoguma has chosen to stay out for now. Thumbs up @pompei.
Pompei Nigeria is sick in the head, I was just watching the people hyping Ozowanfor that can not even break into Galatasaray. Anthony Izuchukwu is the best talent to be ignored and only God will talk sense into the coaches that has refused to see the good in a player that can hold his own even when under intense pressure. I pray we don’t loose another Alaba in the making.
@Chima… you have to know that some of these players briber their way into the team.
That’s the point else this dude can not be a better option than Anthony Izuchukwu and I’m sure many talented players like him never gets to see green light as well. The problem is the football philosophy and administration that is why Pinnick must be kicked out.
Top marks @Endurance. Team selection is never based on merit.
Lolzzzz ZA ZA
@Chima, the Anthony Izuchukwu I see now is way more confident and slimer than before our last AFCON and World Cup playoff.
I guess he has either been watching some defenders like Antonio Rudiger or others. He now even runs into the midfield.
The other video you showed last just showed him tackling in the 18 yard box, but now he is even determing counter attacks.
I now support his call up under Jose Peseiro.
He looks like Captain material sef
Well said @Pompei.. I and I believe in this Izuchukwu. He will solve all the Super Eagles problems at the back.
Brilliant video and piece on Anthony IZUCHUKWU. Who remembered I wrote about him here. A confident ball carrier and passer. Better than
Ekong in terms of ball distribution and moving the ball from the back. He’s also comfortable on the ball than OMERUO.
NDA, IZUCHUKWU and AKPOGUMA should be drafted to compete with EKONG, BALOGUN and AJAYI going forward.
Izuchukwu is indeed a good ball carrier. Clean, neat tackles. His ball distribution is top notch.
I think Kevin Akpoguma is better.
Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham.
Olisa Ndah of Orlando pirates and Anthony Izuchukwu of Hapoel Haifa are all better than Mr. Valentine
@Pompei, I have always wondered why we as a nation do not want the progress of the country. How come Adebayo Adeleye is not in this team? How come Izuchukwu is not in this team and valentine is? How do you invite samson tijani and not tosin kehinde? there are more questions than answers. These evil people wanted to smuggle Onazi back into the team but for the uproar generated by Nigerian fans.
The truth is Nigeria could rule Africa for the next decade but dodgy decisions would put a stop to it. Why can’t we invite this dude for the friendlies in America? Imagine if we had the pleasure of seeing Tosin Kehinde in the midfield for Nigeria against Mexico. Make no mistake, a lot of Nigerian fans are also enablers of this system. This dude right here is a proper ball playing center back. Peseiro says he wants certain things in a SE player , Quality, Passion etc. Hopefully they will all get their chance.
Adebayo Adeleye was invited to replace Maduka Okoye, but he couldn’t secure US visa to join the team here. He might be in the AFCON qualifiers squad. However, it’s way too early at this point to start suggesting players for the coach. A coach that gave 4 NPFL players their debut must surely know about Izuchukwu. Maybe he see Ozornwanfor a younger prospect. After all Valentines was a regular for Charleroi this past season. Let’s see how things unfold in the nearest future. For now no one have a say in his team selection. We can just be giving opinions.
I first noticed Anthony Izuchukwu when he was invited for the double header friendlies against Cameroon last year by Rohr. Unsurprisingly, he was benched throughout with Ekong executing the poor clearance that blessed Cameroon their only goal of both encounters.
I then conducted a bit of research and concluded that he was sharp, quick, agile, mobile and timely in tackles.
A note of caution: club football is not national team football and he is yet to prove his worth against exceptional, top quality strikers.
That said, it will not be a bad idea to give this lad a try. He comes across as one of those players who will never relinquish his spot in the team once he gets going.
The looks like a truly exciting centre back.
anthony izuchukwu is a solid defender
Ozowanfor can not lace the boot of Anthony Izuchukwu Nigeria is a failed country that only likes average players.
My people,
We hope someone will give this boy a chance. Agreed, club football is different from international football, but Izuchukwu looks like a player that can add real value to the SE. These friendlies would have been ideal to try the lad.
Val Uzomwafor is also a decent player in his own right, though. He is a left footed Centre Back just like BASEY who can be handy in a 343 or 352
Nobody takes our comments here serious, even Complete Sports will never promote this simple truth about players like Anthony Izuchukwu but will rather hide it and promote rich pockets. Up next is another eye sore match against Ecuador at Friday Dawn. Nigeria and their nonsense building and what pains me most is that the next set of matches will only hide our flaws and fans will start singing praises, not until we get to crucial matches before the bubble go burst as usual.
Take your time and watch this short video…..I heard he’s been working on his switch for a long time now.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DUcgFw-wiwuk&ved=2ahUKEwiL5_m2gYz4AhVp8LsIHbatCnkQwqsBegQIeRAF&usg=AOvVaw0wUfSx21Tph5TLO3b4cwra