SUPER EAGLES: Ahmed Musa and different gamers who ought to NOT have made the squad in opposition to Guinea-Bissau

These 5 gamers shouldn’t have been included within the Tremendous Eagles squad to prosecute the double-header in opposition to Guinea-Bissau

The most recent Super Eagles squad to prosecute the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has confirmed controversial to say the least. 

Nigeria will play back-to-back video games in opposition to Guinea-Bissau on March 24 and 27 house and away respectively and Tremendous Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has launched a 23-man listing to characterize the nation in each video games.

The listing has generated conversations primarily based on the notable inclusions and exclusions however listed below are 5 gamers who shouldn’t have made the squad.

Semi Ajayi

Semi Ajayi began the season as a key participant for English Championship facet West Brom however his season was halted by an damage and he has since struggled to regain that momentum.

The 29-year-old began in West Brom’s 1-1 draw in opposition to Cardiff final weekend in what was his first league begin since August.

Earlier than that recreation in opposition to Cardiff, Ajayi had solely performed simply over half-hour of league soccer in 2023, nowhere close to the usual required to characterize the Tremendous Eagles.

Joe Aribo

With 21 appearances for the Tremendous Eagles since debuting in opposition to Ukraine in 2019, Joe Aribo has change into a staple within the Nigeria nationwide group.

Nonetheless, primarily based on his present type and season to date at membership stage, Aribo’s inclusion within the newest squad listing is a very mind-boggling resolution.

The 26-year-old is listed as one in all 4 midfielders within the squad regardless of solely enjoying 11 minutes of soccer within the final 9 league video games for Southampton. 

Aribo has solely began two video games in 2023, each of which have been within the FA Cup, final of which was on January 28 which begs the query how does a bit-part participant get a Tremendous Eagles invite? Solely Peseiro can reply.

Frank Onyeka

Talking of bit-part gamers in Premier League golf equipment, Frank Onyeka additionally makes the listing in a slim midfield that already contains Aribo.

Onyeka performed 87 minutes in Brentford’s shock win away at Manchester Metropolis simply earlier than the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

That recreation on November 12, 2022 is the final time Onyeka began a soccer recreation and has the truth is solely made two appearances in whole since then.

Ahmed Musa

Not solely is Ahmed Musa nonetheless a Tremendous Eagles participant in 2023, he stays the group captain and one of many first names on the group lists.

His steady inclusion within the squad lists defies understanding because the 30-year-old is clearly previous his prime and has been sparingly utilized by his membership Sivasspor this season. 

Musa has performed one minute off the bench in three of Sivasspor’s final 5 video games, within the different two video games he was an unused substitution.

Even for the Tremendous Eagles, Musa hardly ever sees motion regardless of making each group when he’s match. His final begin for the group was in October 2021 in a 2-0 win in opposition to Central Africa Republic.

If the Tremendous Eagles captain is barely adequate to play 5 of the final 13 video games for Nigeria, all of which have been substitute appearances, maybe it’s time to for each events to maneuver on.

Paul Onuachu

The inclusion of Paul Onuachu on this squad shouldn’t be a scandalous resolution by any means because the striker has scored 17 objectives in 28 video games this season.

The problem is that every one 17 objectives have been scored in 22 video games for his former membership KRC Genk and he’s presently on a six-game aim drought for his new membership Southampton.

The 28-year-old joined Southampton in January however has did not hit the bottom operating, final beginning a recreation in February in opposition to Leeds United.

It appears unusual that an out-of-favour Onuachu was chosen forward of in-form strikers like Gift Orban and Victor Boniface however once more, solely Jose Peseiro actually is aware of why.

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