Tolu Arokodare and two other Nigerian players who deserve a call-up to the Super Eagles

Austin Eguavoen, the interim manager of the Super Eagles, recently announced the 23-man squad invited for Nigeria’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Rwanda and Benin.

Nigeria sits atop Group D with 10 points and needs just one more point to guarantee a spot in the tournament in Morocco. 

To secure this, Eguavoen has called upon a mix of 23 outfield players; which comprises three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards.

However, despite the strong squad selection, some standout Nigerian players, in superb form with their clubs, missed the call-up. 

Allnigeriasoccer.com highlights three Nigerian players currently in strong form who were surprisingly omitted from the squad.

Joe Aribo

Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo has been rediscovering his form at Southampton, working his way back into manager Russell Martin's plans in the Premier League. 

Aribo had a difficult transition from Rangers, which led to him losing his place with both Southampton and the Super Eagles. 

This season, however, the 28-year-old has made nine league appearances and shown versatility in various midfield roles.

In October alone, he contributed with a goal in three matches, making a solid case for his inclusion. 

With his adaptability and improved form, it is believed that Aribo could have offered the Super Eagles valuable midfield depth.

Josh Maja

Josh Maja has been a revelation for West Brom in the English Championship, playing a significant role in their promotion push.

Maja’s performance has been nothing short of stellar; he has scored eight goals and provided one assist in 13 matches, making him one of West Brom’s standout players.

With only Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface matching his scoring contributions among the invited forwards, Maja’s exclusion is surprising.

Tolu Arokodare

Tolu Arokodare has been in sensational form for Belgian side Club Brugge, becoming a consistent goal-scorer and playmaker this season.

The 23-year-old Nigerian striker has notched up eight goals and four assists across 14 games, significantly aiding Brugge’s push to the top of the Belgian Pro League.

Notably, his output surpasses that of Super Eagles regulars like Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, and Moses Simon this season, making his exclusion from the squad particularly puzzling.

Arokodare’s physical presence and scoring consistency could have provided Eguavoen with another reliable option in the attack.

As the Super Eagles gear up to face Benin and Rwanda, the focus will be on the selected squad to deliver the needed points for AFCON qualification.

Adeyemi Adewale

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