Five interesting facts about Super Eagles' 25-man Africa Cup of Nations squad 

The Nigeria Football Federation on Friday announced the Super Eagles' 25-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and there are no major surprises in the squad, with manager Jose Peseiro opting to include majority of the players he has worked with since his appointment as coach in 2022.

An analysis of the roster revealed that three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards have been selected by the Portuguese football tactician. 

Allnigeriasoccer.com brings you five interesting facts about Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations squad. 

Who is the oldest and who is the youngest player in the squad?

Sivasspor winger Ahmed Musa is the grandfather of the team as he will be the oldest player when the tournament kicks off on January 13, at the age of 31 years and 91 days. The youngest player is Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika who does not turn 23 until April 19, 2024.

How many clubs have contributed players to the roster? 

There are twenty-two clubs with players called up led by Fulham, Leicester City and Boavista with two each. Other clubs include Chippa United, Omonia Nicosia, Enyimba, Nottingham Forest, Fenerbahce, PAOK, Kasimpasa, West Brom, Porto, Club Brugge, Southampton, Brentford, Sivasspor, Napoli, Real Sociedad, Nantes, Atalanta, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen. 

Who is the most capped player and who is uncapped? 

A veteran of three Africa Cup of Nations and two World Cups, captain of the Super Eagles Ahmed Musa has the most caps, having made 108 appearances including fourteen at the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Enyimba goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo is the only uncapped player in the squad. 

Who is the team's highest goalscorer and which players have never scored? 

Of the players who have netted ten goals or more (Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen) , Napoli superstar and current African Footballer of the Year Osimhen, is the leading scorer with 20 goals in 28 games. 

Taking into account outfield players only, eight players have yet to break their duck for the national team namely Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika and Victor Boniface. 

How many players were born abroad and could have played for other countries?

Six of the players selected were born abroad and some of them turned out for the youth teams of other nations before becoming cap-tied to Nigeria.   

They are Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman, Semi Ajayi and Joe Aribo (England); Calvin Bassey (Italy) and William Troost-Ekong (Netherlands). 

Aina, Lookman and Iwobi represented England at youth level while Troost-Ekong is a former Netherlands U20 international. 

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