The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has made it known to all federations whose team will be participating at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire next year on the number of players they are allowed to bring to the tournament next year, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
CAF allowed teams to name a sqaud of 28 players for the last AFCON but with the provision that only 23 of the players will be named in the matchday squad. They have now amended that requirement.
Via a letter to all federations, CAF made it clear that teams are only permitted to name a squad of 23 players for the tournament with at least two as goalkeepers. They will however be allowed to name a provisional squad of 55 players from which the final 23 will be picked.
This format will no doubt heap more pressure on the coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro, who is already facing a dilemma on the forwards he will name to compliment the first choice striker of the team Victor Osimhen.
The headache for the Portuguese will be who he will pick among the quartet of Taiwo Awoniyi, Terem Moffi, Sadiq Umar and Victor Boniface.
For now Boniface is likely to seal a spot leaving the three others mentioned above battling for one slot available for the role of the top striker.
Ade Emmanuel