Inviting 23 players for the Sao Tome match, the NFF finally extends Peseiro’s contract

The Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro’s contract has been extended by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s director of communications, made this announcement in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Prior to the 34th AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, he claimed that the NFF and the Portuguese coach achieved an understanding for him to remain the Super Eagles’ head coach.

“The Portuguese has been awarded the authority to lead the Super Eagles to, at the very least, the semi finals of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Cote d’Ivoire in a few months,” he stated. “This is in accordance with the original contract, drawn in May 2022.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Peseiro guided the Super Eagles to an AFCON ticket with one game remaining and through the qualifying rounds.

Olajire stated that Peseiro had consented to a wage reduction from his previous conditions, and that the new agreement also placed him in command of the Super Eagles B (home team), who compete in the twice-yearly African Nations Championship (CHAN).

In the meantime, the Super Eagles’ head coach has selected 23 players for the match against Sao Tome and Principe on September 10 in Uyo, the penultimate match in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

William Ekong, the team captain, is on the list, as are the defenders Tyronne Ebuehi and Semi Ajayi, as well as the midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka.

Among the forwards are Taiwo Awoniyi, Moses Simon, and Victor Osimhen.

Eight defenders, four midfielders, eight strikers, three goalkeepers (including local player Olorunleke Ojo), and three goalkeepers were all named by Peseiro for the match.

Nigeria already has a spot in the finals secured thanks to their 12 points from their previous five games, but they still need to finish at least a point ahead of Guinea Bissau in order to take first place in the group.

With 10 points, Guinea Bissau will host Sierra Leone in Bissau.

Jordan Torunarigha, a centre back from Belgium, and the attackers Gift Orban and Victor Boniface have all been called by Peseiro for the first time.

Bruno Onyemaechi, a left defender from Portugal, and Raphael Onyedika, a defensive midfielder, have both been called back.
Players who were invited in full.

Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel), Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC), and Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus).

Defenders include: Tyronne Ebuehi of Empoli FC in Italy, Jordan Torunarigha of KAA Gent in Belgium, William Ekong of PAOK FC in Greece, Olaoluwa Aina of Nottingham Forest in England, Semi Ajayi of West Bromwich Albion in England, Calvin Bassey of Fulham FC in England, Jamilu Collins of Cardiff FC in Wales, and Bruno Onyemaechi of Boavista FC in Portugal.

Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester City, Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge, Joe Ayodele-Aribo of Southampton FC, and Frank Onyeka of Brentford FC are among the midfielders.

Forwards include Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest, England, Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City, Samuel Chukwueze of AC Milan, Italy, Moses Simon of FC Nantes, France, Ademola Lookman of Atlante FC, Italy, Victor Osimhen of Napoli FC, Italy, Gift Orban of KAA Gent, Belgium, and Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen, Germany.