AFCON 2023 Qualifiers: Peseiro Invites Osimhen, Musa And 23 Others For Crackers

By Akinwale Kasali

Having tasted back-to-back defeat in the hands of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Bound duo of Mexico and Ecuador, Super Eagles Portuguese Coach, Jose Peseiro has invited Napoli Football Club of Italy Striker, Victor Osimhen back to the team.

After the Ecuador match at the New Jersey stadium in United States of America, Peseiro decided to bolster the team ahead of their 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Principe.

The three-time African Cup of Nations winners is set to face Sierra Leone on June 9th, 2022, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, before facing São Tomé and Principe four days later in Morocco.

São Tomé and Principe were reinstated to the AFCON qualifiers after winning an appeal against Mauritius who fielded an ineligible player.

Peseiro has called up captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong and 25 other players to the camp of the Super Eagles for the qualifiers.

The Portuguese tactician also invited goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Adewale Adeyinka, defenders Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Sani Faisal, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, Alex Iwobi and Innocent Bonke.

Also invited are forwards Moses Simon, Terem Moffi, Cyriel Dessers and Emmanuel Dennis – who were all part of the squad that played Mexico and Ecuador in prestige friendlies in the United States of America.

Peseiro has added Israeli –based goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, defenders Abdullahi Shehu, Zaidu Sanusi, Leon Balogun and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman and Sadiq Umar.

Nigeria welcomes Sierra Leone to the MKO Abiola National Stadium in one of the Day 1 matches in the campaign, on Thursday 9th June, before flying to Marrakech, Morocco to play away to São Tomé and Príncipe on Monday, 13th June.

FULL LIST: SUPER EAGLES FOR SIERRA LEONE AND SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sani Faisal (Katsina United);

Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Innocent Bonke (FC Lorient, France); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France)