Nigeria squad announcement : Eight things to note on the Super Eagles 27-man squad

The Nigeria Football Federation announced the Super Eagles squad list for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone (June 9) and São Tomé and Príncipe (June 13) on Saturday with three goalkeepers, ten defenders, five midfielders and nine strikers making the cut.

Allnigeriasoccer.com's editorial staff brings you eight things to note on the roster :

1) As at Saturday, June 4, 2022, the roster holds an average age of 25.48 years with six players aged 23 or younger. They are Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen and Terem Moffi.

2) The roster is composed of 24 players on the books of UEFA-affiliated clubs and two players from the Nigeria Professional Football League.

3) In total, players invited represent twenty two different clubs, with Rangers, Watford, Lorient and Omonia Nicosia contributing two players each.

4) Twenty players were part of the 2022 World Cup playoff squad versus Ghana. Manager Jose Peseiro has strengthened the squad with the addition of Adewale Adeyinka, Adebayo Adeleye, Chidozie Awaziem, Sani Faisal, Alex Iwobi, Cyriel Dessers and Terem Moffi.

5) Former Belgium U21 national team invitee Cyriel Dessers will become cap-tied to Nigeria if he makes his competitive debut against Sierra Leone or São Tomé and Príncipe.

6) Two players, both goalkeepers, have the chance to make their Super Eagles debut this month : Adeleye and Adeyinka.

7) Nantes winger Moses Simon is aiming to make his thirteenth consecutive appearance for the Super Eagles in a competitive match - more than any other player named to the roster.

8) Five players have been named in the matchday squad for the final of a FIFA youth tournament. They are Kenneth Omeruo (2009 U17 World Cup), Francis Uzoho (2013 U17 World Cup), Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen (2015 U17 World Cup) and Ademola Lookman (2017 U20 World Cup).

Nigeria squad for AFCONQ

Goalkeepers (3): Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders (10): Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Sani Faisal (Katsina United); Leon Balogun (free agent); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain)

Midfielders (5): Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City, England); Innocent Bonke (FC Lorient, France); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards (9): Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal CF, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Cyriel Dessers (Racing Genk, Belgium); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France), Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England)

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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