Sports
NFF unveils Super Eagles list for AFCON qualifiers
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has listed 23 players for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
There are three goalkeepers, including AFCON 2023 star Stanley Nwabali, seven defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards.
Bendel Insurance safe hands Amas Obasogie also returns, just as South Africa-based defender Olisa Ndah and Taiwo Awoniyi, who has not been called since the 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Uyo on Matchday 1 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in November last year.
The Super Eagles go up against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, September 7, before flying to Kigali to take on the Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday, September 10.
All the players are expected to report in Uyo on Monday, 2nd September.
FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance FC)
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England).
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England).
Victor Boniface has been ruled out of Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga clash with Freiburg.
Boniface returned to full team training this week after a short injury layoff.
The 23-year-old sustained a muscle injury on international duty last month.
Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso stated that the powerful striker has not fully recovered from the injury and will not face Freiburg on Saturday (Saturday).
“Victor Boniface, Amine Adil and Jonas Hoffmann are unavailable for the game due to injuries,” Alonso said during his interaction with the media.
The Nigeria international has scored eight goals in 15 appearances across all competitions for Die Werkself this season.
Carlo Ancelotti has become Real Madrid’s most successful manager after the club defeated Pachuca 3-0 to win the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday night.
Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo all scored as Los Blancos clinched their latest piece of silverware.
It is also a record-breaking 15th trophy for Ancelotti with the Spanish giants across two spells.
He has won three Champions League trophies, two La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys, two Spanish Supercopas, three UEFA Super Cups, two Club World Cups, and the Intercontinental Cup.
Ancelotti has surpassed Miguel Muñoz, who led Real Madrid from 1959-1974 and won 14 trophies, including nine league wins and two European Cups.
Former Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro says Atalanta manager, Gian Piero Gasperini must take credit for Ademola Lookman’s remarkable rise this year.
Lookman has thrived at Atalanta since arriving from Bundesliga outfit, RB Leipzig in 2022.
The 27-year-old has also excelled at the international level, playing a key role in Peseiro’s side that finished second at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
“I think giving Lookman the freedom to move around has allowed him to show his quality, both in terms of decision-making and execution,” Peseiro told Sportitalia.
” Of course, the club and Gasperini have provided Lookman with the environment to grow as a player in all aspects.”
Lookman was named African Footballer of the Year this week.
Peseiro said his former deserved the accolade.
“I think Lookman’s victory is deserved given his performances both for Atalanta, his club and for his country, Nigeria,” added the Portuguese.
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