The list of players called up by coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro for the friendly game against Algeria on the 27th of September, has been altered again following the withdrawal of some players.

Peseiro released a 25 man list for the game but so far as many as six players have been forced out due to injury and two more were ruled out in the last 24 hours. The captain of the team Ahmed Musa and Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze are the latest two to pull out of the game.

The injured duo have been replaced by the duo of Savior Godwin of Portuguese side Casa Pia and Ebube Duru of Nigeria Professional Football League champions Rivers United. Both players are expected to join the team by tomorrow at their training camp.

A left back who got his first chance with the Nigerian B team four years ago when he played in the friendly game against Atletico Madrid, Duru worked this way into the heart of the Portuguese coach with a strong performance for the home base Eagles in their recent CHAN qualifiers.

Despite their failure to make it to the tournament after losing via spot kicks to Ghana, he stood out in the return leg which was watched by Peseiro hence the decision to hand him a chance.

26 year old Godwin who was a part of the 2013 Nigeria U17 and also 2015 U20 team, has so far played all seven games for Casa Pia this season with two goals to his name. His team is sixth on the league table. Prior to joining the Portuguese side last season he was at Belgium side KV Roeselare. He was voted the best player in the Portuguese second division last season after leading his team to promotion to the top division

The present first choice goalkeeper of English Premier League side Gavin Bazunu was in the frame to represent Nigeria few years ago before he made his senior international bow for Ireland.

20 year old Bazunu who is of Nigerian descent has ten caps for the senior team of Ireland fully establishing himself as the first choice of the team stepping up from the U17 through the U21. However he was in the frame to represent Nigeria before his debut.

A former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria revealed he told Rohr about Bazunu who was then 18 year old and was at Manchester City U23.  Bazunu’s parent were also not against the switch and convinced their son to take the chance.

According to the coach, the information was passed to Rohr but around that time he has already met Maduka Okoye, who came highly recommended hence showed no desire to follow up even when he visited the United Kingdom.

A call came from the Irish team and he accepted it and with his recent position as first choice of Southampton his position in his national team is secured as long as he keeps his spot.

The list of players who will represent Nigeria in Saturday’s friendly game against Algeria have been made public by coach of the team Jose Peseiro.

In the list, there was a first time call up for Raphael Onyedika of Belgium side Club Brugge but the main talk in the list was the decision to hand a recall to several players who have been out of the squad for a while.

Top of the list is Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma who famously turned down the chance to be at the Africa Cup of Nations after getting a late call up to replace the Injured Leon Balogun.

He demanded to be a regular which he wasn’t given any form of guarantee by then interim coach Austine Eguavoen. He hasn’t gotten a look in since then until Saturday when his name was in the 25 man list.

The decision to hand a recall to the 27 year old was reached in agreement with Eguavoen, whom we understand suggested his inclusion on the strength of the fact that no Nigerian defender has played more games than him since the start of the year.

Excited by his game time, Peseiro got across to him and promised him a fair chance to stake a claim in the team for a regular berth. It was on the strength of those words that he decided to renege on his decision to quit international football.

The list of invited players for the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of the friendly game against Algeria was made public by the coach of the Nigerian team Jose Peseiro on Saturday.

One name that was missing from the list is that of Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo who was a part of the squad for the first two competitive games of the new coach of the team.

His non inclusion made us sought to know why considering the fact that he is by far one of the most consistent player in the team owing to the fact that he is getting regular run of games at Southampton.

Reacting to why he isn’t in the squad, a member of the technical crew said it was a decision agreed upon with Aribo as he needed to rest after the huge amount of games he has played the past one year.

As a matter of fact ,he played over 70 games last season, a number which no other footballer had last year. He will use the international break to rest and should be back in the Nigerian team for the November friendly game against Portugal.

Meanwhile, feelers from people close to Peseiro has it that the Portuguese coach isn’t favourable disposed to the idea of having Wilfred Nididi play as the defensive midfielder of the team.

Peseiro always set out his team to attack and he feels Ndidi’s passing range could slow the transition from midfield to attack, hence is considering playing him as a centre back alongside Calvin Bassey.

The captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa is likely to miss the team friendly game against Algeria on the 27th of September in Oran.

Musa was subbed off in the first half of Sivasspor’s 1-2 loss against Ankaragücü yesterday in the Turkish Super Lig, where his team is still searching for their first win of the season.

He came off injured with what looked like an injury to his left arm. He received treatment on the pitch with the hope of continuing but had to be taken off and replaced by Clinton N’Jie in the 19th minute. The severity of the injury will be known later today after a scan.

If it turns out to be severe then he will definitely miss the Super Eagles game on the 27th. Which will force the coach of the team Jose Peseiro to once again rejig his squad for the game, he has already been forced into making two changes due to injury.

The duo of Henry Onyekuru and Leon Balogun have been replaced by Emmanuel Dennis and Valentine Ozornwafor respectively after being ruled out due to injury.

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has tweaked his official list of players called up for the upcoming international friendly game against Algeria next weekend.

Peseiro named 25 players for the game but was forced into making a late change with the injured Leon Balogun making way for Valentine Ozornwafor after he was ruled out due to injury.

Earlier today, Nottingham Forest forward Emmanuel Dennis was called up as a replacement for Henry Onyekuru who has also been ruled out of the game with an Injury.

We gathered that might not be the only change made to the list as two players namely Innocent Bonke and Alhassan Yusuf have also been told to be on alert as they are on the provisional list as possible replacement. Already their clubs have been contacted about the arrangement.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Leon Balogun

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Emmanuel Dennis, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria José Peseiro has made one change to the list of players called up to the team ahead of the September 27th friendly game against Algeria.

A 25 man list of invited players was released earlier today but owing to an injury to Leon Balogun, the coach has been forced to call up Sochaux of France defender Valentine Ozornwafor who was earlier called up but wasn’t named in the revised list released earlier today.

Peseiro has opted for Taiwo Awoniyi, Terem Moffi, Moses Simon and 22 other players to take on former African champions Algeria in an international friendly match in the Algerian town of Oran on Tuesday, 27th September.

Also called are goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Ahmed Musa and Cyriel Dessers.

Only Richard Onyedika, of Belgian top team, Club Brugge, is a new face in the group. Germany –based defender Kevin Akpoguma also returns to the fold.

Three –time African champions Nigeria and two-time African champions Algeria clash at the 40,000 Stade Olympique in Oran on Tuesday, 27th September, with the invited players expected to confluence in the city of Constantine on Monday, 19th September.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Valentine Ozornwafor.

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Henry Onyekuru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi

The list of players who will represent Nigeria on the 27th of September when they take on Algeria in an international friendly has been made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

In the 25 man list, the name of Lorient’s midfielder Innocent Bonke was missing despite his club confirming on their official website that he has been called up to be a part of the senior national team of Nigeria alongside Terem Moffi.

The situation is the same with Sochaux defender Valentine Ozornwafor whose invitation was also confirmed by his club but his name wasn’t in the list of players made public by the media department of the NFF.

Another name that was missing in the list is that of Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo and so far no explanation has been given for the reason behind his exclusion from the squad. Meanwhile new coach Jose Peseiro handed a first time call up to Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika.

Also Kevin Akpoguma, Maduka Okoye, Taiwo Awoniyi and Henry Onyekuru were all handed a return to the team. Wilfred Ndidi and his Leicester City teammate Kelechi Iheanacho were also included for the first time under the new coach.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Leon Balogun

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Henry Onyekuru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi

The four year ban on former Nigeria U17 star Orji Okwonkwo by the Italian Anti doping agency has been extended to a worldwide ban for the next four years by world football governing body FIFA.

Decision on the case for worldwide extension of the ban, brought before it by Italian NADO, Chairperson of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio affirmed that the player had been cited properly, he has had the opportunity to state his case, the decision has been communicated properly, the decision complies with the regulations of FIFA and extending the sanctions does not conflict with public order or with accepted standards of behaviour.

“Consequently, the Committee decided to extend the sanction imposed on the player by the Italian NADO on 20 June 2022. More specifically, the player is sanctioned with a four (4) years suspension from all football-related activities in accordance with the Decision.”

The ban will run from the 25th of February 2022 to the 24th of February 2026. His contract with Italian side Bologna would have run out before the end of the suspension. He only recently returned from a loan spell at Serie B Cittadella.

Head Coach José Santos Peseiro has opted for Taiwo Awoniyi, Terem Moffi, Moses Simon and 22 other players to take on former African champions Algeria in an international friendly match in the Algerian town of Oran on Tuesday, 27th September.

Also called are goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Ahmed Musa and Cyriel Dessers.

Only Richard Onyedika, of Belgian top team, Club Brugge, is a new face in the group. Germany –based defender Kevin Akpoguma also returns to the fold.

Three –time African champions Nigeria and two-time African champions Algeria clash at the 40,000 Stade Olympique in Oran on Tuesday, 27th September, with the invited players expected to confluence in the city of Constantine on Monday, 19th September.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Leon Balogun

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika

Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Henry Onyekuru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi