Peseiro insists Super Eagles have a good squad despite absence of Ndidi, Aribo, Osimhen, Ekong

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro has revealed that he has a competitive squad that can hold their own against the Algeria national team in a friendly scheduled to take place at Miloud Hadefi Stadium, new Olympic complex in Oran, on Tuesday evening. 

The Portuguese football tactician won't be able to count on at least five players in an ideal Nigeria starting lineup namely Wilfred Niddi, William Troost-Ekong, Joe Aribo, Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen for the game against the Fennec Foxes. 

Ndidi and Troost-Ekong were part of the squad that reported for international duty in Constantine but were forced to decamp due to fitness issues, while Osimhen and Chukwueze are still recovering from muscular problems. 

Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo asked to be left out of the squad due to personal issues, while the likes of Leon Balogun, Emmanuel Dennis, Ahmed Musa, Sadiq Umar and Henry Onyekuru, who are not guaranteed starters for the national team,  are on the mend. 

Aris FC new boy Oghenekaro Etebo is lacking match fitness and was not summoned for the double header against Algeria. 

The absence of these players could open the door for Raphael Onyedika and Saviour Godwin to make their international debuts for Nigeria while Hoffenheim's Kevin Akpoguma could play his first game under Peseiro. 

On the absent players, Peseiro told NFF TV on Monday : " "We have other players. Some players not in camp is not important, the important thing is the players that are here. We believe in them, I have confidence in them.

"They know what to do tomorrow. It's good for us to play one hard match. I hope we will do well.

"I have good players, I have a good squad. We are going to fight for a good result."

Having lost three consecutive matches, Nigeria are seeking their first win in 2,145 days against the Algeria national team.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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