AFCON: Odion Ighalo faults Nigeria’s least inclusion of home-based players
Former Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo has joined other Nigerians to lament the inclusion of a few local players in Super Eagles’ provisional squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Head coach, Jose Peseiro included only three goalkeepers; Ojo Olorunleke, Amas Obasogie and Christian Nwoke in the 41-man list submitted to the continental football governing body, CAF.
The Saudi-based striker said the home-based players deserve better recognition than what they’re currently getting.
He stressed that the decision not to invite more players from the Nigerian Professional Football League means the coach is not focusing on the domestic competition.
“I don’t think it’s right not to invite home-based players, this is a 40-man list, at least five to seven players should be on the list to encourage them. Not inviting them means you don’t focus on the league,” Ighalo told Oma Sports.
The 24 participating teams for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 recently submitted their provisional squads for the tournament.
According to the regulations, each Participating Member Association (PMA) qualified for the final tournament is to submit a provisional list of no more than 55 players no later than 14 December 2023.
Following a decision by the CAF Organising Committee of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the PMA’s will be permitted a final squad of 27 players, four more than the initial 23 from previous tournaments.
In addition, the deadline for the submission of the final squads for the tournament is 3 January 2023, exactly ten (10) days to the opening match.
