By Francis Ajuonuma with agency reports
Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro listed Francis Uzoho of Omonia FC, Cyprus and five other goalkeepers in the 40-man provisional squad unveiled yesterday ahead of the 2024 AFCON tournament that will be held in the Ivory Coast.
Each team is allowed by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to register maximum of 27 players in the final squad list for the biggest football fiesta in Africa, which means 13 players in the current 40- man list will be dropped when the final list is released.
The Portuguese included three home-based goalkeepers – Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo, Sporting Lagos’s Christian Nwoke, and Bendel Insurance’s Amas Obasogie.
The two other foreign-based goalkeepers in the provisional squad are Stanley Nwabali of South Africa’s Chippa United and Adebayo Adeleye of Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel.
Gift Orban of Gent did not make the list like Istanbul Başakşehir’s Emmanuel Dennis, a surprise inclusion. Taiwo Awoniyi also missed out after having surgery on a persistent groin injury.
Nigerians anticipate a great outing from the Super Eagles, especially with the country’s attacking firepower.
Super Eagles’ strikers like Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Paul Onuachu are enjoying a great run of form with their club side, and Nigerians hope Peseiro can galvanise their club form to give the nation a great outing in the Ivory Coast.
Also in the provisional squad are, Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Tyronne Ebuehi, Jamilu Collins, Zaidu Sanusi, Bruno Onyemaechi, William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Kenneth Omeruo, Kevin Akpoguma, Chidozie Awaziem, Jordan Torunarigha, Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka
Others include, Joe Aribo, Alex Iwobi, Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika Nwadike, Kelechi Nwakali, Terem Moffi, Umar Sadiq, Ahmed Musa, Cyriel Dessers, Ademola Lookman, Nathan Tella, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho.
