Barring a last minute change of mind, injury or suspension, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal the 27 players who have been informed that they are in the Super Eagles final list of player for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The players were picked from the provisional list put together by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro for the tournament, which he has been told holds the key to his continued stay in the job as coach.

A run to the final will trigger an automatic extension that will see the Portuguese remain in his job till until after the world cup qualifiers for the 2026 edition.

Below is the list of 27 players he has picked for the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire next year. He also placed six players on standby and it includes Bayer Leverkusen winger Nathan Tella, who made his debut for the team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe.

Two players on standby like Kevin Akpoguma and Tyrone Ebuehi are expected to be in with a chance with Peseiro unsure about two senior defenders.  Terem Moffi who made the sqaud is another who isn’t certain to be on the plane just like Raphael Onyedika.

It’s still unclear why the coach has doubts over the duo.

The List

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel), Olorunleke Ojo ( Enyimba, Nigeria).

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe, Turkiye); Chidozie Awaziem ( Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (PAOK FC, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal), Kenneth Omeruo ( Kasimpasa, Turkey).

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England).

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad , Spain); Terem Moffi (Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany), Ahmed Musa ( Sivasspor, Turkey).

Standby: Kelechi Nwakali, Nathan Tella, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tyronne Ebuehi, Kevin Akpoguma. Jordan Torunarigha .

22 year old forward Joshua Zirkzee is one of the players who have taken the Italian Serie A by storm this season with eight goals and two assists in 17 games, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Zirkzee has experienced a turnaround in his career after a forgettable two years experience, where he went from one of the highly rated teen stars at Bayern Munich to loan spells which yielded nothing spectaculars.

However under Thiago Motta, he has found the sort of form that many envisaged when he broke onto the scene as a 17 year old four years ago at Bayern Munich.

Bologna signed Zirkzee from Bayern Munich 18 months ago and he cost them €8.5 million as well as 35% on any future capital gain. One other condition is that Bayern have the right to match future offers for Zirkzee should they want to bring him back.

As things currently stand, Bologna would need to receive a bid of €40m for them to sit at the table. He is a player that both Napoli and Milan are thinking seriously about for next season.

Born to a Nigerian father, his senior international future was expected to spark a tug of war as he is eligible for both Nigeria and the Netherlands. But it looks like that won’t be the case with the forward who was once approached to play for Nigeria by erstwhile coach Gernot Rohr.

He has only one national team in his head at the moment and it is the Dutch national team, the team that he has represented at various youth levels, effectively ruling himself out as an option for the senior national team of Nigeria at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Ade Emmanuel

Head coach of the senior national team of Cote d’Ivoire the host of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations Jean-Louis Gasset says the main issue teams faced with they play against the Super Eagles is the options they have in attack, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria is in the same group with the host, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. Both teams will clash in their second group game and Gasset sees it as the game that will likely determine who finishes as group winners as they are both favorites to progress.

” You expect it to be Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire but it doesn’t work that way, so we have to respect the other teams in the group and not focus more on the game against Nigeria. Guinea Bissau is our immediate concern”, the coach said in quotes in the French media.

He was asked what are his fears about facing Nigeria, who are blessed with some of the finest forwards in Africa at the moment led by current Africa footballer of the year Victor Osimhen, Bundesliga fast rising forward Victor Boniface, feared Ligue 1 forward Terem Moffi and Atalanta top scorer for last season in the Serie A Ademola Lookman.

” Nigeria can play with four strikers and that is a problem for most teams because they can score from any angle not a particular player say Osimhen. We have to find a way like every other team that has played against them. We play against them in our second game”, the 70 year old concluded.

Osas Mahawi

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro says he will be delighted to have on loan Napoli midfielder Michael Folorunsho in the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Folorunsho was born in Italy to parents of Nigerian descent making him eligible for the senior national team of Nigeria, he is yet to be capped by Italy at any level.

This season he has stepped up to the demands of the Serie A with 16 games to his name for Hellas Verona, where he is on a season long loan deal from Napoli.

His performances haven’t gone unnoticed and it led to questions aimed at the coach of the Nigerian team on his interest in having the 25 year old in the green white green colors of Nigeria.

” The best players play for Super Eagles, so if he is the best and wants to come to us we will have him in the team. For now we focus on the AFCON with the players available to us but in the future which I don’t know and you don’t know as well we will look at players not with us”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive interview in South Africa where he went to meet with newly invited Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Osas Mahawi

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye asked to be left out of the Super Eagles squad for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.comcan exclusively reveal.

The 24 year old staged a return to the Nigerian team when they played against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in two international friendly games before the start of the world cup qualifiers. He was drafted in as cover with doubts over the availability of two of the three invited goalkeepers.

After the games , which first choice Francis Uzoho was in goal he was invited to the team for the start of the world cup qualifiers, but he declined the invitation leading to Amas Obasogie of Bendel Insurance coming in as his replacement.

Ahead on the AFCON head coach of the team Jose Peseiro spoke with the former number one on the need to let go of any hard feelings he suffered, when the Super Eagles crashed out of the last 16 at the AFCON in Egypt losing 0-1 to Tunisia leading to online insults and death threats.

Okoye was blamed for the goal that saw Nigeria exit the tournament and since then he hasn’t played for the team. Peseiro thought he could talk him out of it but it didn’t yield any positives.

He insist on staying away from the team to focus on his club career at Udinese, although he could be back in the team in the future to add to his 16 senior caps for Nigeria.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Once considered to be one of the brightest talents in English football, Nigerian international, Ademola Lookman’s career stalled badly after leaving his first club Charlton. Having come through the Academy ranks there, Lookman became one of the youngest players in the club’s history back in 2015.

Everton Struggle

Lookman would make a £7.5 Million move to Everton after two seasons at his boyhood club, but after a blistering start to life at Goodison Park where he scored on his debut, he would fall out of favour with boss, Sam Allardyce.

Everton, who are currently one of the favourites for relegation in football betting after their ten-point deduction, made Lookman available for loan in the 2018 January transfer window, and it was here that he would make his first foray into European football.

German Adventure

With plenty of clubs vying for his signature, Lookman made the brave decision to move to Germany to join RB Leipzig. He did enough in the loan spell for the move to be made permanent but he would ultimately fail to score in just 11 appearances for the club.

Return To England

After failing to nail down a spot at the German side, Lookman moved back to the Premier League with loan spells at both Fulham and Leicester. Despite impressing at both clubs, he would again decide to head to Europe after being put up for sale at Leipzig.

Has He Finally Found A Home?

Serie A was the next port of call for Lookman in the summer of 2022, with Atalanta paying €15 Million for his services. It has proven to be a match made in heaven for both club and player, as the Nigerian is finally beginning to fulfil the promise he once showed at the Bergamo side.

Lookman looks like a completely rejuvenated player in Serie A. His dynamic dribbling skills, hard-working ethic, and eye for goal have made him one of the most exciting talents in the league. Atalanta, who are now consistently battling at the top end of the table, have been able to get the best out of the Nigerian international and the future looks bright on all fronts.

Three Lions To Super Eagles

Lookman represented the country of his birth at all levels as a youngster, but the Nigerian national team were always lurking in the background to try and get him to change his allegiance at a later stage. The Super Eagles tried on many occasions to persuade the Atalanta forward to join up with the squad, but Lookman always hoped that a call would come from England boss, Gareth Southgate.

The player turned down the chance to switch to Nigeria on three occasions, the last time after being told by Southgate that he was in his plans for the future. After further being ignored by England, Lookman finally accepted a call-up from the Super Eagles in February 2022.

He made his debut a month later in a goalless draw against Ghana in a World Cup Qualifier. Lookman has since gone on to represent the country on 10 occasions and has already bagged two goals for his adopted nation.

With Lookman now maturing into the player that he once promised to be, Atalanta and Nigeria have one of the most exciting talents in world football.

The coach of English Championship side Leicester City Enzo Maresca says he isn’t surprised with the performance of Nigeria international midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who have been moved to a role higher up the pitch, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ndidi has responded to the responsibility without much problem picking up five assists and two goals for the high flying side, who are looking really good for an instant promotion back to the English Premier League after relegation last season.

Unlike a lot of people who are surprised by the performance of the Nigerian in an advanced role as opposed to his more defensive responsibility in the past years at the club, Maresca says he knew from the get go that the 27 year old won’t struggle in that role.

“He improves a lot,” the manager said. ‘From Wilf, in terms of physicality, you expect everything. He’s fantastic. In terms of quality, probably you don’t expect from him. But I’m not telling you that, because since day one, I could see something there.

“Against West Bromwich, he gave a fantastic pass for Kiernan. He’s been doing fantastic movements. He’s scoring goals. He’s creating chances for his team-mates. He’s working very good.

“I’m happy because when you see the player making the effort to understand how they have to play, it’s good. When I see Wilf giving passes or scoring goals, I’m happy because he deserves it.”

Responding Ndidi who admitted that he initially struggled to get used to the role says he is now very comfortable in what is the modern day number 10 role.

“It’s actually giving me a great advantage to get in the box, getting chances and creating chances,” Ndidi said. “I was not used to it, but I am now.

“I feel very pleased. It’s just me trying to do the simple things and then gradually the confidence comes. We work in training every day, understanding the system. With the team, everybody knows what they have to do, which is very important to the system. We just need to keep going.”

Ade Emmanuel

Players of the senior national team of Nigeria still competing in Europe’s premier club competition the UEFA Champions League now know the opponents their teams will be up against in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The draws was made earlier today and leading the Nigerian players in the tournament is recently crowned Africa footballer of the year Victor Osimhen, who will surely be in the mix when Napoli host Barcelona.

FC Porto will be up against Arsenal with their Nigerian defender Zaidu Sanusi hoping to be fit and available after his recent injury troubles. While Sadiq Umar will be in the mix when Real Sociedad host PSG.

Below is how the entire round of 16 fixtures will be decided.

RESULT OF THE UEFA Champions League DRAW

FC PORTO vs ARSENAL FC

SSC NAPOLI vs FC BARCELONA

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN vs REAL SOCIEDAD DE FÚTBOL

FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO vs CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID

PSV EINDHOVEN vs BORUSSIA DORTMUND

S.S. LAZIO vs FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN

F.C. COPENHAGEN vs MANCHESTER CITY

RB LEIPZIG vs REAL MADRID CF

Barring a last minute change of mind, injury or suspension, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal the 27 players who have been informed that they are in the Super Eagles final list of player for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The players were picked from the provisional list put together by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro for the tournament, which he has been told holds the key to his continued stay in the job as coach.

A run to the final will trigger an automatic extension that will see the Portuguese remain in his job till until after the world cup qualifiers for the 2026 edition.

Below is the list of 27 players he has picked for the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire next year.

The List

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel), Olorunleke Ojo ( Enyimba, Nigeria).

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahçe, Turkiye); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); William Ekong (PAOK FC, Greece); Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal), Kenneth Omeruo ( Kasimpasa, Turkey).

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England).

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad , Spain); Terem Moffi (Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayern Leverkusen, Germany), Ahmed Musa ( Sivasspor, Turkey).

Standby: Kelechi Nwakali, Nathan Tella, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tyronne Ebuehi, Kevin Akpoguma. Chidozie Awaziem, Cyriel Dessers.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the Italian national team Luciano Spalletti has assured two players eligible for the senior national team of Nigeria that the have a future with his team ahead for the European championship, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

The duo of Luca Koleosho and Michael Kayode of Burnley and Fiorentina respectively are eligible for the senior national team of Nigeria, but Spalletti has already taken the first step to secure their senior international future.

Spalletti spoke about potential new faces he could add to his squad in the coming months, starting with Fiorentina talent Kayode, who has made his Serie A debut this season and helped Italy U19 win the European Championship last summer by scoring the winner in a Final against Portugal U19.

“I had already called him up, but he sustained an injury,” revealed Spalletti.

“Now, we’ll assess him again. Luca Koleosho of Burnley is another pretty interesting profile.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman