Four observations from Super Eagles' 23-man roster for AFCONQ v Guinea-Bissau

Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro released his 23-man list to face Guinea-Bissau in back-to-back games in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Boavista defender Bruno Onyemaechi, Flying Eagles duo of  Daniel Bamaiyi and Chijioke Aniagbose,and Rivers United goalkeeper Victor Sochima were handed their maiden call-ups to the Super Eagles A team.

Below are four observations from the just-released squad list

1.Peseiro is not convinced of Adebayo Adeleye

Hapoel Jerusalem goalkeeper , Adebayo Adeleye who was part of the team that faced Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe has been dropped by Peseiro.

This does send a message that the Portuguese tactician does not see him as a valuable player in the squad. The inclusion of young Chijioke Aniagboso and untested Victor Sochima ahead of an experienced Adeleye says it all.

2. Chijioke Aniagboso and Daniel Bameyi have not done enough to merit a place

The inclusion of both ahead of more experienced and better legs is beyond me.

With the uncertainty in the Super Eagles' goalkeeping and defensive positions, we need our best and most experienced legs to be vying for places in the national team at the moment.

Adeleye would provide more competition to Uzoho than Sochima and Aniagboso, while Blackpool center back Marvin Ekpiteta is a better option than Bameyi. 

3.  Super Eagles have limited options in the midfield

With the plethora of midfielders that Nigeria have playing at home and abroad, it always amazes me that successive Super Eagles coaches have made it look like the country is bereft of midfielders. That explains the scanty midfield options that are always being paraded.

The midfield is the soul of every team, the Super Eagles won't go anywhere without a strong core of midfielders.

If we are not convinced about the midfielders abroad, then the Nigerian Professional Football League can be our saving grace.

The likes of Jide Fatokun of Kwara United, Morice Chukwu of  Rivers United and Leonard Ugochukwu of Rangers are fantastic midfielders who could be good additions to the squad.

4. Joe Aribo invited despite struggles at Southampton 

To say the former Rangers man is having a bad patch at Southampton is an understatement. He has been left out of the first team and is now being forced to play for the Saints youth team.

He received an invitation to the national team due to his antecedent. While game time is not guaranteed, this should be able to cheer him up as he undergoes a turbulent time in his career.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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