Peseiro reveals exactly why 'fantastic' duo Troost-Ekong and Musa were left out of Super Eagles squad

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro has dismissed reports in the local media indicating that two of his key players Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong were omitted from the October internationals due to tactical reasons and fitness issues respectively.

The Portuguese football tactician made it clear that he was pleased with the performance of his captain and vice-captain, and labeled both 'fantastic'.

KAA Gent central defender Jordan Torunarigha got the nod over Troost-Ekong because Peseiro wanted to observe him at close quaters again after the former Germany youth teamer failed to make his debut in last month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against São Tomé and Príncipe.

Another centre-back Peseiro wants to look at is Porto youth team product Chidozie Awaziem who has been in impressive form in the 2023-2024 season and has been in the international wilderness since November 2022.

As for Musa, the bona fide captain of the national team is not in Portugal with the Super Eagles due to a visa issue.

When asked to explain the absence of Musa and Ekong, Peseiro said at the pre-match press conference: "Ahmed Musa did not come because of the problem with visa, didn't get a visa. Ekong is an option, he belongs to the group but for this camping I decided I need to check Torunarigha.

"I could have called Ekong but Chidozie came because he only came last year, he deserves also (to be here).

"We know the quality of Ekong, for that he can wait for the next camp. I could have called many other players but I could only call not more than 25."

Peseiro revealed that Kenneth Omeruo will take on captaincy duties if named in the starting lineup for Friday's showdown against Saudi Arabia. 

"The captain is Omeruo. Like the last camp, it was Ndidi on the pitch. The captain wasn't the captain on the pitch, more important outside the pitch.

"Last camp it was Ekong, he was fantastic. I told him before the match he was fantastic, like Ahmed, but they are out."

Nigeria's most capped player in history, Musa has not played for the Super Eagles since coming off the bench against Guinea-Bissau on March 27, 2023 while Ekong's last game was against Portugal in November 2022.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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