Peseiro submits Super Eagles 50 man AFCON squad, Orban and Balogun missing

Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro has submitted his 50-man provisional list to CAF ahead of next year's Africa Cup of Nations and Gent forward Gift Orban is one of the biggest omissions.

The 21-year-old forward joins veteran defender Leon Balogun and Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper at the last AFCON, Maduka Okoye, who were dropped from the provisional squad.

According to ACL Sports, Kelechi Nwakali and Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Christian Nwoke are the surprise inclusions on Nigeria’s 50-man list as the former Golden Eaglets captain makes a return to the team since the last AFCON tournament.

Recent absentees from the Super Eagles Ahmed Musa, William Troost-Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi, and Paul Onuachu have all been named to the preliminary list, which will be reduced to 27 players on January 3, 2024.

Nigeria, bidding for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title, will face Equatorial Guinea in their first group match of the 2023 AFCON on Sunday, January 14, 2024, before further matches against Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea in Group A.

NFF plays safe with Orban exclusion

Meanwhile, the omission of Gift Orban from Nigeria’s 50-man AFCON provisional squad shows that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are unwilling to gamble with his controversial international status, Score Nigeria reports.

Orban, who also qualifies to play for Togo, was born and raised in the West African country, although the Gent forward claims his father hails from Benue State, Nigeria.

The 21-year-old forward did not make his long-awaited Super Eagles debut against Sao Tome & Principe in Uyo earlier this year after he reportedly suffered injury.