By Akinwale Kasali
Soccer enthusiasts have frowned at the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, Salish Yusuf, for not inviting Napoli Football Club of Italy Striker, Victor Osimhen, for the international friendly matches against Ecuador and Mexico scheduled for the United States of America.
Yusuf released a 30-Man list of players that would prosecute both friendlies in preparation for the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, including Fatih Karagumruk Football Club of Turkey winger and Captain of the Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa and forward Moses Simon, ahead of the prestigious international friendly matches.
The inclusion of Musa has however generated controversy.
Fans and observers of the team argued that Musa’s days are numbered in the team as he has no impact in the team, just merely making up the numbers.
The Coach also invited new faces which is said to be a welcome development. However, despite the invitation of some new faces, Nigerians have expressed their dissatisfaction with the list.
Some questioned the inclusion of Musa, while many others hit out at the NFF over the absence of Victor Osimhen.
A section of the fans also asked who would lead the team out, given the 2013 African champions are currently without a coach.
But despite the fans’ anger, the Mexico and Ecuador friendlies will be the start of a new era for the Super Eagles.
The three-time African champions will hope to put their World Cup failure behind them as they start a new chapter. The Super Eagles missed out on World Cup qualification after losing to Ghana via away goals.
The three-time African champions will clash with CONCACAF powerhouse Mexico at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, State of Texas on Saturday, 28th May, before flying to New Jersey to tackle Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday, 2nd June.
Yusuf, who is also Head Coach of the CHAN and the U23 teams, has included eight home–based professional players, including goalkeepers Adewale Adeyinka and Ojo Olorunleke, defender Ibrahim Buhari, and forwards Victor Mbaoma and Ishaq Rafiu.
Only 25 players will make the final list for the tour, which is preparatory to next month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone in Abuja (9th June) and São Tomé & PrÃncipe in Marrakech, Morocco (13th June).
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Isa Ali (Remo Stars); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau United)
Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United); Babatunde Afeez Nosiru (Kwara United); Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey); Samson Tijani (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Victor Mbaoma (Enyimba FC); Ishaq Rafiu (Rivers United)
