Victor Osimhen leads Nigeria’s array of attacking talent for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after coach Jose Peseiro named a 25-man squad for next month’s tournament in Ivory Coast.
The 25-year-old became the first Nigerian man to win the continent’s top individual prize since 1999, and he also finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
Victor Boniface, who has 10 goals in 16 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen this season, and AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze are among eight forwards named.
There are eight English-based players in the squad, including Fulham defender Calvin Bassey and midfielder Alex Iwobi, and Leicester City pair Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Portuguese coach Peseiro could have named a maximum of 27 players by the deadline of 3 January, but decided to leave out further attacking talent as Nice’s Terem Moffi, Trabzonspor’s Paul Onuachu and Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers all failed to make the cut.
Enyimba goalkeeper Leke Ojo is the only domestic player included, with Stanley Nwabili of South African outfit Chippa United providing competition for established number one Francis Uzoho.
Uzoho has been backed by Peseiro despite errors in recent friendlies, and Udinese keeper Maduka Okoye has fallen out of favour.
The 2023 Afcon finals begin on 13 January and end in the final on 11 February.
Nigeria, who last won the Afcon title in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi, have been drawn in Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria squad for Afcon 2023
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa), Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus), Leke Ojo (Enyimba, Nigeria).
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (PAOK, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal), Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista, Portugal), Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista, Portugal), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa, Turkey).
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Raphael Onyedika (Club Bruges, Belgium), Joe Aribo (Southampton, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England).
Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy), Moses Simon (Nantes, France), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Victor Osimhen (Napoli, Italy), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor, Turkey), Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain).
