Eight things to note on Super Eagles' starting lineup against Guinea-Bissau

Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has announced his starting lineup for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau at the National Stadium in Abuja. 

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

1) The eleven players selected in the starting lineup have an average age of 24.91 years, with Kevin Akpoguma  the oldest at 27 and Calvin Bassey the youngest at 23 years and 83 days. 

2) Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro has made four changes to the lineup that lost to Portugal back in November, bringing in Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Zaidu Sanusi and Victor Osimhen. With the exception of Chukwueze, the remaining players were not in the squad against Portugal. 

3) Blackpool academy product, Bright Osayi-Samuel, who was previously eligible to represent England, will play a cap-tying game for Nigeria, provided he is not injured in the pre-match warm-up. 

4) Seven of the eleven starters are age 25 or younger : Francis Uzoho, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Zaidu Sanusi and Victor Osimhen. 

5) Four players named in the starting lineup also started against Guinea-Bissau the last time both countries faced off at the AFCON in 2022. They are Uzoho, Iwobi, Iheanacho and Ndidi. 

6) Iwobi and Uzoho are making their seventh consecutive start for the Super Eagles since the appointment of Peseiro. 

7) Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi will wear the armband. Senior players Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo and Moses Simon, who all made their international debuts before the holding midfielder, are on the bench. 

8) Three starters were underage internationals for European nations before they were recruited for the Super Eagles : Iwobi, Akpoguma and Lookman.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel  

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com