Nigeria entered the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with high expectations, touted as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
However, the optimism surrounding the Super Eagles has waned prematurely, overshadowed by a series of unfortunate events and puzzling decisions made by coach Jose Peseiro.
As the team braces for their opening match against Equatorial Guinea, three pivotal decisions have raised eyebrows and cast doubt on Nigeria’s championship aspirations.
Maduka Okoye’s omission
In a perplexing move, Peseiro opted to exclude Maduka Okoye from the squad despite the goalkeeper’s impressive performances in Serie A with Udinese.
Okoye is the only Nigerian goalie plying his trade in Europe’s top five leagues.
The decision has drawn criticism, notably from Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha, who expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of Okoye in the national team since his howler against Tunisia at the 2021 AFCON.
Instead, Peseiro chose goalkeepers from Cyprus, South Africa, and the local Nigerian league, leaving the team with a mix of limited exposure and questionable confidence levels in the goalkeeping department.
Insistence on a 25-man squad
Despite the Confederation of African Football (CAF) allowing teams to name 27 players in their final AFCON squad to account for potential injuries, Peseiro insisted on a 25-man roster.
This decision proved costly during the team’s week-long camp in the UAE, where Victor Boniface sustained an injury, followed by Umar Sadiq upon arrival in Cote d’Ivoire.
The subsequent call-up of Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu, who will miss the opening match and require time to assimilate into Peseiro’s plans, underscores the repercussions of the coach’s insistence on a smaller squad.
Inviting injured players
Peseiro’s decision to include players nursing injuries or recovering from long-term layoffs has further muddied the waters for Nigeria.
Wilfred Ndidi, recovering from a knock, made the roster, with his replacement, Alhassan Yusuf, only called up after Leicester City refused to release an injured player.
Umar Sadiq, who spent most of last season on the sidelines after undergoing surgery, secured a spot over the in-form Paul Onuachu.
At the same time, Kelechi Iheanacho, dealing with a lingering knock, remains absent even 24 hours before the tournament kicks off.
Peseiro’s preference for injured players jeopardises the team’s cohesion and puts their competitiveness at risk.
In retrospect, while a miraculous triumph remains plausible for the Super Eagles, Peseiro may find these three decisions as the bedrock of any potential failure.
As the Super Eagles navigate the challenges ahead, the spotlight will undoubtedly remain on these questionable choices that have created an air of uncertainty around Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.
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