Coach Austin Eguavoen announced his Super Eagles squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers group D double header with Benin and Benin Republic which got eyes rolling due to the inclusion of some seemingly undeserving names and the omission of some players who are currently doing well for their clubs.
Coach Austin Eguavoen invited Gabriel Osho, Victor Collins, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Sadiq Umar even amidst their current dip in form and individual performances for their respective clubs this season.
Super Eagles star Kelechi Iheanacho is struggling for minutes at new club Sevilla CF
Kelechi Iheanacho’s struggles at Sevilla continues as the forward’s dip in form has cost him a starting spot for Sevilla. Iheanacho has scored only two goals in the Copa Del Rey this season but his yet to open his account in the league.
Sadiq Umar is another recalled player with a disappointing stat this season. The 27-year-old tall Nigerian forward who joined Real Sociedad since 2022 has played 6 matches this season in the La Liga with no goals or assists, played 2 Europa League games with zero goals.
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The invitation of Gabriel Osho and Victor Collins have also left many stunned. Those are names nobody is hearing anywhere in the world and they may likely not have minutes in the star-studded Super Eagles squad.
Meanwhile, deserving players continue to be overlooked. Cyriel Dessers, Rangers’ prolific striker with 9 goals, remains ignored.
Snubbed super Eagles forward Cyril Dessers has scored 9 goals this season
Leon Balogun, a regular starter for Rangers, and Kevin Akpoguma, a solid defender in the German league, have been consistently snubbed.
Victor Olatunji’s impressive Champions League performances and Jordan Torunarigha’s defensive prowess for Gent also warrant recognition.
This disconnect between form and selection undermines the Super Eagles’ potential. Coach Eguavoen must prioritize merit over sentiment.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Benin Republic and Rwanda this weekend in an highly anticipated AFCON group D qualifiers.
Nigeria currently sit top of the group with 10 points with their next opponents Benin Republic and Rwanda sitting 2nd and 3rd on the log.
