2023 AFCON: Eight things to note on Super Eagles starting lineup against Equatorial Guinea

Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro has announced his starting lineup for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match against Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on Sunday, 1500 hours kickoff. 

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

1) The average age of today's starting lineup is 26.82 years, with William Troost-Ekong the oldest at 30 years and 135 days and Alhassan Yusuf the youngest at 23 years and 180 days. 

2)  Zaidu Sanusi, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon are the four survivors of the starting lineup that narrowly lost to Tunisia in Nigeria's last game at the Africa Cup of Nations on January 23, 2022.

3) Two players in the starting line up are aged 25 or younger: Victor Osimhen and Alhassan Yusuf.

4) Alhassan Yusuf and Stanley Nwabili are making their competitive debuts for the Super Eagles. They make their Africa Cup of Nations debuts along with 2017 Fifa U20 World Cup winner with England, Ademola Lookman. 

5) Semi Ajayi and Troost-Ekong are starting a game together in central defence for the first time since June 9, 2022 when the Super Eagles beat Sierra Leone 2-1 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. 

6) Alex Iwobi makes his thirteenth start since Peseiro took over the managerial position, level with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, who has been named among the substitutes versus Equatorial Guinea.

7) Three starters are products of Nigeria's youth teams: Semi Ajayi (2013 Flying Eagles Toulon Tournament), Moses Simon (2013 and 2015 Flying Eagles) and Victor Osimhen (2015 Golden Eaglets)

8) William Troost-Ekong captains the Super Eagles for the fifth consecutive time at the Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria won three consecutive matches with Troost-Ekong wearing the armband before losing to Tunisia. 

Nigeria's starting lineup v Equatorial Guinea: Nwabili; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu; Onyeka, Yusuf, Iwobi; Lookman, Simon, Osimhen

Substitutes: Uzoho, Musa, Aribo, Chukwueze, Osayi-Samuel, Onyemaechi, Iheanacho, Onuachu, Awaziem, Bassey, Omeruo, Onyedika

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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