NIGERIA SUPER EAGLES RELEASE SQUAD FOR PORTUGAL FRIENDLY

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have officially released their squad for the friendly game against the Portuguese national team on Thursday, November 17th 2022.

The game which will kick off at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal by 7:45pm Nigerian time is a high profile friendly which features the two giants of their respective continents collide for the first time ever. The Portuguese however will execute this game with all seriousness and technique as it is their only official game in preparation for the world cup having released their 26 man squad earlier yesterday featuring five time balon d'or winner Cristiano Ronaldo who makes his fifth world cup appearance in Qatar 2022.

The Super Eagles however, will look to get back to winning ways after frustrating results in a 2-2 draw and a 2-1 loss to the the Algerian home based team and the Algerian national team respectively months ago in Algeria leaving Coach Jose Peserio winless in non competitive games since taking over.

There are key call ups for in form players around Europe such as Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen, Atalanta player of the month Ademola Lookman, Terem Moffi who can't stop scoring for Lorient in France, in form Alex Iwobi of Everton with the second most assists in the Premier League and so on. There are also debuts for Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Oseyi, recalls for Kevin Akpoguma, Paul Onuachu who scored four goals in his last game for KRC Genk in the Belgian League and Tyronne Ebuehin as well. Francis Uzoho who had a flash of brilliance against Manchester United in the Europa League is available as but Captain Ahmed Musa misses with Taiwo Awoniyi who misses out making way for club teammate Emmanuel Dennis. African based stars are also given a slot as in form Orlando Pirates defender who recently won the MTN8 trophy with in South Africa with a man of the match performance is recalled for the first time under Peseiro along side another defender Ebube Duru of Nigerian champions Rivers United assured of playing in the group stages of the CAF Confederations Cup, hoping to make a senior team debut finally.

The Squad in Full: Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Watford FC, England); Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Tyronne Ebuehi (Empoli FC, Italy); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Aris Thessaloniki, Greece)

Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Terem Moffi (Lorient FC, France); Paul Onuachu (Genk FC, Belgium); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest, England)

The last time 'Nigeria' played, they were represented by the B team who lost 2-0 to Costa Rica, another team headed for the World Cup in a result that could pose a threat to the nations current FIFA rankings, its up to the Super Eagles senior team to make amends against the country which cocah Peseiro hails from, Portugal.