Eight things to note on Nigeria's starting lineup against Sierra Leone

Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has announced his starting lineup ahead of Thursday evening's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone at the MKO Abiola Natonal Stadium in Abuja.

Allnigeriasoccer.com's editorial staff  brings you eight things to note on the starting lineup to face the Leone Stars.

1) The eleven players selected in the starting lineup have an average age of 24.91 years, with William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi the oldest at 28.

2) Peseiro has made four changes to the starting lineup from last week's international friendly versus Ecuador, inserting Ola Aina, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimnhen and Umar Sadiq.

3) Calvin Bassey and Umar Sadiq are playing their first-ever games for the country in Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

4) Troost-Ekong is starting his ninth consecutive game for the Super Eagles in 2022, the only player in the squad to do so.

5) Three players have won the FIFA U17 World Cp in the past : Francis Uzoho, Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen.

6) Victor Osimhen is partnering Sadiq in attack for the first time at the start of a game. The Almeria man played the last two minutes of the 1-1 draw with Ghana in March 2022.

7) Racing Genk striker Cyriel Dessers will become cap-tied to Nigeria if he makes an appearance off the bench.

8) Jose Peseiro has now used twenty different players since his first game in the dugout : Uzoho, Bassey, Ajayi, Ekong, Awaziem, Iwobi, Aribo, Simon, Bonke, Dessers, Moffi, Faisal, Madu, Ishaq, Mbaoma, Dennis, Aina, Chukwueze, Osimhen and Sadiq.

Super Eagles starting XI :Uzoho, Aina, Troost-Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey, Aribo, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Simon, Sadiq, Osimhen

Substitutes : Adeleye, Adeyinka, Dennis, Musa, Sanusi, Omeruo, Moffi, Dessers, Lookman, Shehu, Onyeka, Etebo

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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