Many stars missing as Peserio names Nigeria squad to face Portugal

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the Super Eagles roster for the glamour friendly against Portugal in Lisbon next week.

An analysis of the 23-man squad list revealed that three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders, and seven strikers have been called up for the friendly against the World Cup-bound nation.

Seven players are on the books of English clubs including Arsenal’s Hale End Academy graduate Alex Iwobi and Tottenham Hotspur-reared defender William Troost-Ekong.

Iwobi is a guaranteed starter for the Super Eagles and the same applies to Troost-Ekong, who will captain the team in the absence of Ahmed Musa.

READ:

• Footballer, Ahmed Musa, marries for the third time
•  Top 10 Richest Female Footballers in the World 2022
• Meet Silas Nwankwo, The Acclaimed 18-year-old Nigeria Footballer.

Nottingham Forest’s Emmanuel Dennis, Southampton’s Joe Aribo, Watford’s Maduka Okoye, Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Brentford’s Frank Onyeka will also be on the plane to Portugal next week.

Bright Osayi-Samuel has been rewarded for his fine form and new-found versatility with a maiden call-up to the Super Eagles and the other outfield players in contention to make their debuts are Boavista defender Bruno Onyemaechi and Rivers United star Ebube Duru.

However, former Super Eagle captain Ahmed Musa, misses out

Nigeria will take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Thursday, November 17, 1945 hours kickoff.

THE FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Watford FC, England); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Aris Thessaloniki, Greece)

Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Terem Moffi (Lorient FC, France); Paul Onuachu (Genk FC, Belgium); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest, England)