Jose Peseiro Introduces Eight New Faces For 2023 AFCON

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has announced eight debutants in the final 25-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

The squad includes goalkeepers Stanley Nwabili and Olorunleke Ojo, as well as bright wingers Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface.

The team also includes William Troost-Ekong, who has been absent for several months. The squad also includes four Premier League aces: Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Frank Onyeka.

The defensive line is led by seasoned campaigners like Kenneth Omeruo, who joins the ranks alongside William Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, Chidozie Awaziem, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Bruno Onyemaechi. In midfield, Wilfred Ndidi strengthens the team after his absence from recent World Cup qualifiers.

The forward line is complemented by prolific names like Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar, and Ademola Lookman.

The squad will converge in Abu Dhabi for a week-long training camp starting January 2, then head to Lagos and Abidjan for the tournament, Sportxparte reports.

Nigeria, three-time AFCON champions, will face Group A challenges against hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea.

Their journey begins with a clash against Equatorial Guinea on January 14, followed by Ivory Coast on January 18 and Guinea Bissau on January 22.