The list of the players called up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers games against Guinea Bissau has been made public by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Head coach Jose Peseiro called up 23 players which includes two players from the Nigeria U20 team that finished third at the recently concluded U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The team’s goalkeeper Chijioke Anigboso and captain Daniel Bameyi were handed their first senior call up.
While the decision to call up Anigboso can be said to be justified owing to his near faultless performance, the same can not be said of Bameyi who had to settle for a spot at right back as he couldn’t displace the duo of Benjamin Fredrick and Abel Ogwuche who formed a near perfect relationship in centre defence in his absence due to suspension.
His invitation has raised five questions begging from answers as compiled by OGN editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman.
1. Which team is Yum Yum FC ?- When Bameyi was first called up to the B team of the senior national team of Nigeria for the friendly game against Costa Rica. Yum Yum FC was stated as his team.
A quick search was done and uptil date no club in Nigeria is registered with that name. Furthermore there is no any other player linked with the club be it in the past or present. Where exactly are they based? Abuja they said but sources in Abuja denied ever knowing a team with that name.
2. He wasn’t the best defender in the U20 team- At the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Bameyi lost his spot in centre back after picking up two booking in the group stages of the tournament. Upon his return he had to settle with a spot at right back in the semi final and losers final game. Even that too ended up as a mockery of common sense as the player he displaced Augustine Njoku made the list of CAF best XI players of the tournament as the best right back.
3. Who is behind His National Team Call Ups- It has been a year to behold for the 17 year old defender in the national team set up of Nigeria. Played for the B team of the senior squad, played for the U23 and captained the U20. One would have been forced to understand if he is special but from all we have seen so far it’s more of a case of an unseen force pushing him around all the national teams he is eligible for.
4. Non League player in Super Eagles – One of the allegations leveled against then Super Eagles Stephen Keshi that led to his sack was his decision to invite a non league player in Gabriel Okechukwu to the senior national team. So what has changed between then and now that a non league player is worthy enough to be handed a senior national team call up.
5. What criteria led to his invitation – So clearly for a 17 year old to be in the senior team he must be special and seen as one with a future in the team. Special can’t be used in the same sentence as the Yum Yum FC teenager, so what was the criteria used in handing him a senior call?
So many questions begging for answer but we will stick with these five for now.
