The head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has come under increasing pressure from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on his proposed sqaud for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire next year, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Peseiro has already submitted his provisional list of players to the NFF and also hinted at the players who are sure to be with him at the tournament, however he isn’t sure of four players which includes three senior players.
Top of the list is William Troost-Ekong who despite his regular run of games for Greek side PAOK has been blacklisted from the team by Peseiro, who has settled for the duo of Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey as his preferred centre back choice.
Kenneth Omeruo and Chidozie Awaziem were the back up pair during the recent round of games for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and the coach is not entirely sure that his vice captain will be on the plane to Ivory Coast next year.
Also the captain of the team Ahmed Musa is among the players not sure of getting listed for the tournament with his poor form at Turkish side Sivasspor not helping his case.
Leon Balogun is the other senior player in the provisional list but doubts surrounds his inclusion in the final list of players for the tournament. His recent run of form for Scottish side Rangers has been cited as a reason to bring him back to the team.
” Look there are some experience players that you need around a team going to an international tournament. It is not for testing of new players or untested players. That is why we are making sure the coach rethink his stand on players like Ekong, Musa and Balogun. Musa might not be getting games but he is very vital to the sqaud harmony and discipline. You need him around”, a board member of the NFF told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
He also shed light on including Kelechi Nwakali who has been scouted by the assistants of Peseiro while in action for his club Chavez in the Portuguese top flight. ” We know what he can do and he is playing regularly now at a very top level. You sometimes help a coach by making forceful suggestions and his case is one of those”, he rounded up saying.
Osas Mahawi
