The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has warned the head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro against including inactive players in his sqaud for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Peseiro will submit a provisional list of 55 players for the Africa Cup of Nations in twelve days time, which will be a month to the start of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire. He will be required to trim it down to 27 players for the tournament proper.
Head of the technical committee of the NFF Rabiu Inuwa Ahlan said the football house will not tolerate the inclusion of players who are not active at their clubs, because of the importance and the competitive nature of the tournament.
The warning is coming on the backdrop of criticism over the inclusion of players like Joe Aribo, Semi Ajayi and Francis Uzoho who are not getting regular game time for their respective clubs.
“I want to assure that only the best, the very best of Nigerian players will be at the AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast. The technical Committee of the NFF has mandated Jose Peseiro on this task and we are working together to achieve this feat,” Inuwa told www.totorinews.com
“AFCON is a very competitive tournament. It is very important for the Super Eagles to parade players who are very committed to what is at stake in Ivory Coast.
“We hope that all the quality Nigerian players that merits to be in the Super Eagles are injury free. I am particularly happy to see that Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze have fully recovered.
“I watched the game between AC Milan and Borrusia Dortmund on Tuesday. The goal by Chukwueze against Dortmond showed great quality and it is our prayer that this will repeated in the Super Eagles by the grace of God.
“I also saw the goal Sadiq Umar scored few days ago. He was out injured for almost year. It is good to see Nigerian players doing well in Europe.
“What is before us now is the AFCON. We pray that our players will be injury free by the grace of God, amen,” he concluded.
