By Victor Kanayo
Super Eagles Coach, José Santos Peseiro has invited two players from the just concluded U20 Africa Cup of Nations to the camp of the Super Eagles 2023 AFCON qualifying fixture against the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau.
The two invited players are Goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso and Captain of the Nigeria’s Flying Eagles side Daniel Bameyi.
Surprisingly, a deserved invitation went to Victor Sochima, who is the number one goalkeeper of Nigeria Premier Football League champions and current CAF Confederation campaigners Rivers United.
Sochima is one of the reasons Rivers United FC have inched close to a CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final ticket.
According to a press statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday, Sochima will contend for the number one shirt with Francis Uzoho who plays in Cyprus.
The statement further revealed that Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa, in-form forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, both playing in Italy, are also invited.
While Osimhen stars for Napoli, Lookman features for Atalanta.
Italy-based Osimhen, with 23 goals in 28 matches this season, (including four goals that has helped his club reach the last eight of the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever) netted four when the Eagles slammed Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 in a record international scoreline in Agadir, Morocco nine months ago
“Spain-based defender Kenneth Omeruo returns, as midfield enforcers Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and Portugal-based defender Bruno Onyemaechi gets an opportunity to vie for shirts against Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kevin Akpoguma and Calvin Bassey.
“Portugal-based left back Zaidu Sanusi is also back, and usual suspects Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu are also called.
“Players are expected to start arriving at the team camp in Abuja on Sunday, 19th March. Table-toppers Nigeria are on maximum six points from their defeats of Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe, with the Djurtus in second place on four points from their defeat of Sao Tome and Principe and draw with the Leone Stars,” the statement added.
Nigeria and Guinea Bissau clash at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja from 5pm on Friday March 24, then make it a second date at the Estadio 24 de Setembro in Bissau on Monday March 27, also starting from 5pm.
NFF also disclosed that Egyptian referee Mahmoud Elbana will be in the centre, with his compatriots Youssef Elbosaty, Sami Halhal and Ahmed El-Ghandour to function as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively during the encounter
The Federation also said, “Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the match commissioner and his compatriot Kotey Alexander will be the referee assessor.
“CAF has also appointed Moroccan referees for the return leg in Bissau. Samir Guezzaz, son of the retired Mohamed Guezzaz, will superintend, with compatriots Zakaria Brinsi, Hamza Naciri and Noureddine El Jaafari in the roles of assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.
“Massa Diarra from Mauritania will be the match commissioner and Waldabet Koissoual from Chad will function as the referee assessor.”
