Coach Jose Pesiero today set the ball rolling for what Nigeria should expect at the 2023 AFCON by naming a final 25-man squad that does not command great public confidence.
His answer to the Super Eagles goalkeeping crisis is to draft South Africa-based shot stopper Stanley Nwabali, while the solidity of the central defence and the lack of creativity in midfield were not even addressed.
It will be something of a shock should Uzoho lose his No 1 spot to the uncapped Nwabali, while Olorunleke Ojo is on the flight to Cote d’Ivoire to ensure that at least the NPFL was represented at the AFCON.
The central defence will remain an Achilles Heel of the team as William Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo are in the twilight of their careers, while Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey are average players who will always struggle at this level.
It is either a poor scouting network or an unwillingness to open his squad to better competition that a central defender like Igho Ogbu has again been overlooked.
Ogbu has been outstanding at the heart of the back four of top Czech club Slavia Praha both in the UEFA Europa League as well as the domestic championship.
There are also serious concerns in midfield as it is again lacking the creative players who will carve out the chances for one of the most feared set of attacking talent available in world football to fire.
In place of an enforcer like Frank Onyeka ought to be double champion with Antwerp in Belgium last season Alhassan Yusuf, who displayed his creativity in the UEFA Champions League this term, while Kelechi Nwakali has got his career back on track at Portuguese club Chaves.
Terem Moffi has been one of the most consistent strikers in the major leagues of Europe since 2020, but Peseiro did not consider him ahead of Sadiq Umar, who has yet to establish himself at his Spanish club Real Sociedad after he recovered from a long-term knee injury.
Ahmed Musa’s international career has also ran its full course and his long service to the nation has already been rewarded as he is now Nigeria’s most capped international with 108 appearances.
His continued selection in the last two years has always denied a younger and more deserving forward a chance with the Super Eagles.
It will also be interesting to see how Ademola Lookman is played at the AFCON.
His Italian club have played him to great effect as a second striker, but he has struggled to reproduce his form at Atalanta with the Super Eagles as he has often been played out on the wings and so far away from the target.
The Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United/RSA), Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC/CYP), Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC/POR), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce/TUR), William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika/GRE), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista/POR), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa/TUR), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion/ENG), Calvin Bassey (Fulham/ENG), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto/POR)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City/ENG), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge/BEL), Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC/ENG), Frank Onyeka (Brentford/ENG), Alex Iwobi (Fulham/ENG)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor/TUR), Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC/ITA), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City/ENG), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad/SPA), Moses Simon (FC Nantes/FRA), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/ITA), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan/ITA), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkussen/GER)
What exactly is there to be excited about? PissError decided to drop exciting players like Orban, Moffi and Tella and instead, went for riff raffs like Musa, Awaziem and Sadiq, players who were colossal failures in the last AFCON. Musa has only featured in a few games all season in the Saudi League, but makes the team? Go figure. So much for picking the best players – more like picking using a quota system.
Don’t get me started on the goalkeepers – all of whom are mediocre for all intents and purposes. Of all the really good options in the world, these are the 3 PissError could come up with? What a tosser!
PissError is just a useless, weak minded loser who lacks the intelligence to put together a competitive squad.
All it takes is for Osimhen to be injured and this team is done!