As the senior national team of Nigeria step up preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations, some players are struggling to fit into the plans of the head coach of the team Jose Peseiro, OwnGoalNigeria.com reveals.
The coach has been given a target of getting to at least the semi final of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire next year in order for his short term deal to be extended to cover the period of the qualifiers for the World Cup 2026.
It has made the coach to be ruthless in taking certain decisions ahead of the tournament, particularly with players who haven’t quite impressed or have fallen behind in the pecking order.
While he is sure of sticking with captain of the team Ahmed Musa as long as he is fit, the same can’t be said for the vice captain of the team William Troost-Ekong who has fallen out of favour in recent times.
Ekong who is enjoying regular run of games at Greek Side PAOK hasn’t played for the senior national team of Nigeria since the 0-4 drubbing in the hands of Portugal almost a year ago.
He wants included in the sqaud that recently engaged Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively in two high profile test games. Prior to the games he was an unused substitute twice during the final round of games for the AFCON qualifiers.
Another player who has heavy doubts on his spot in the team is Chidozie Awaziem of Boavista. The 26 year old who was given his big breakthrough at Porto by Peseiro isn’t seen as an option by the coach. His last call up was a late one coming in for the injured Jamilu Collins for the recent friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively.
Awaziem was a second half substitute in the 3-2 win over Mozambique playing the final 29 minutes. It was his first involvement with the team since the 0-1 loss to Ecuador on the 6th of March in 2022.
The duo add not the only defenders battling to win back the faith of the manager with TSG Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma also facing the same threat. He hasn’t been involved since the 3-2 win over Sierra Leone, where he was subbed on for the final 19 minutes of the game.
Since then, he hasn’t been involved in the team and has further fallen down the pecking order with the recent invitation of Jordan Torunarigha and also the faith of the coach in the duo of Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey. His chances of making the team for the AFCON is very slim.
Empoli defender Tyronne Ebuehi is well loved by Peseiro but he hasn’t done enough to nail a spot in recent games, particularly the recent friendly game against Saudi Arabia which he started.
For now the duo of Ola Aina who is now back to full fitness and Bright Osayi-Samuel are the favorite to be on the plane to Cote d’Ivoire next year as the right backs of the team.
The last name on our list is Trabzonspor forward Paul Onuachu. Admired and loved by the coach for the fact that he is of a different profile from the rest of the attackers in the team, the emergence of Victor Boniface has seen him drop out of consideration.
Onuachu is also now behind Taiwo Awoniyi, who is having a good run in the English Premier League for Nottingham Forest. There is little or no way back for him in the team before the start of the AFCON.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
