An explanation on why the quartet of Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho were not included in the Super Eagles 30 man list for the upcoming friendly games has been made known to OwnGoalNigeria.com.
First assistant coach of the Nigerian team Salisu Yusuf made public the list of players for the games against Mexico and Ecuador in the United States of America on the 28th of May and 2nd of June respectively. The above mentioned forwards were absent in the list.
We gathered Osimhen asked to be excused from the games in order to keep him fresh for the start of the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. A request which was granted by Yusuf.
Onuachu on the other hand will be getting married around same time when the games will be played hence the decision to leave him out of the game. For Iheanacho it is all about giving the chance to run the rule on other options.
Iheanacho is seen as one of the senior players in the team whose spot is already sealed. So Yusuf decided to leave him out to see other players at close quarters notably Rivers United’s Ishaq Rafiu.
For Awoniyi , Cyriel Dessers Inclusion on the back of a fantastic campaign in the Europa Conference League left the coaches with no option but to hand him a recall to press for a spot. Awoniyi is however very much in the plans of the coach.
