Eagles list of 25 published ahead of Cup of Nations with squad lightweight in midfield

SUPER Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has released his list of 25 players for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations tournament starting in Ivory Coast next month with several surprises including recalls for old timers Ahmed Musa and William Ekong.

In a squad that is particularly lightweight in midfield, Mr Peseiro's list includes three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards. There is no room in midfield for the likes of Kelechi Nwakali currently lighting up the Portuguese league with Premiere Liga side Chavez, or Alhassan Yusuf , the Royal Antwerp sensation, currently performing wonders in Belgium.

Nigeria’s most capped player, Ahmed Musa, makes a grand return to the squad while South Africa-based goalkeeper, Stanley Nabila, will battle with Francis Zoo and Olorunleke Ojo for the number one spot. At the back, Kenneth Omeruo joins the likes of William Troost-Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Chidozie Awaziem, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi as defenders.

Leicester midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi will also battle for the starting line-up alongside Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Joe Aribo and Frank Onyeka. Musa, Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman are the frontmen for the Eagles who are targeting a fourth title.

All players are expected to depart their bases on Tuesday, January 2 to fly into Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, for a one-week training camp that will last until Tuesday, January 9.  According to the Nigeria Football Federation, the team will fly back to Lagos on January 9 and then fly into the Ivorian capital, Abidjan on Wednesday,  January 10.

Nigeria's Eagles are in group A with hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. Their first match is against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 14, while the second game is against Ivory Coast on January 18 and Guinea Bissau on January 22.

Goalkeepers:

Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

Defenders:

Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika, Greece); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders:

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards:

Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany).