Nigeria are entering an important phase in their bid to qualify for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire. They face Sierra Leone on Sunday 18 June for Matchday 5. The coach, who has one of the most impressive attacking armadas in the world, had to make some choices for his list. These choices did not meet with the approval of the demanding Nigerian public.
Choosing means eliminating. Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has therefore left out the likes of Gift Orban and Victor Boniface, two strikers who have been on fire in the Jupiler Pro League this season. For this important match against Sierra Leone, he has called up Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi and Ahmed Musa. His choices were hotly debated, especially on social networks.
Ahmed Musa bore the brunt of supporters’ criticism. Many would have opted for the Belgian revelations of the season or even Chuba Akpom. So much so that Musa, touched by these comments, posted a message on twitter. “Love me or hate me, one day you will tell your children a story about Ahmed Musa MON.”
Taiwo Awoniyi, who has been in the thick of things at the end of the season with Nottingham Forest, had, no doubt also to extinguish the controversy over the list, sent out a message. Between the lines, he showed how difficult it is to make a selection with Nigeria’s potential. As proof, he himself had been absent since September. “The Super Eagles are not a home for everyone. You can’t stay there forever, because it’s not for just one player. You can be there today and not be there tomorrow (…). If you look at the Premier League, the Bundesliga, LaLiga and other leagues, we have a lot of Nigerian players who are doing well. But the main thing is that you do your best when you get the chance.
Peseiro forced to clarify his choices
The Portuguese coach was also forced to comment on the absence of the season’s revelations. “If I could invite more, of course Orban, Boniface and others would have been called up,” he said.
“I believe in them. They still have to work hard at their clubs. They have the opportunity to play for the national team because they are quality players,” he added. However, he added: “I can’t choose five strikers.
Addressing the question of Musa’s selection at the expense of Gift and Boniface. These are the most controversial choices. The coach explained that the profiles were not the same. “Musa is a winger, not a striker. You can’t compare Musa with Orban or Boniface,” he clarified.
Finally, he assured us that he would be counting on these players, who have won rave reviews from the public, in the future, if they repeat their performances. “Boniface and Orban, the others, have time, that’s for sure, because I believe in them, and that’s why I paid them a visit. They’ve done a fantastic job.
🇳🇬 La liste des Super Eagles pour affronter la Sierra Leone ! #sna #football #nigeria pic.twitter.com/MjRv585vGr
— Sport News Africa (@snewsafrica) June 9, 2023
