By Daily Sports Nigeria on June 10, 2023

Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has once again overlooked in-form Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise striker Victor Boniface, The PUNCH reports.

Nigeria face the Leone Stars in a match-day five of the AFCON qualifiers at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in Liberia on June 18.

Akpom enjoyed a sensational individual campaign in the Championship scoring 28 goals and registering two assists from 36 games and was awarded with the EFL Player of the Year.

Boniface also had an impressive season with Union and was on target on 22 occasions while he also had 12 assists in 55 appearances.

While both players had been tipped to earn their first call-up for Nigeria, Peseiro, in a list released by the media team of the Nigeria Football Federation on Friday, surprisingly did not invite any of the two players for the AFCON qualifier.

The Portuguese tactician invited struggling duo Ahmed Musa and Joe Aribo for the encounter.

There were four spots for home-based players in the 63-year-old list.

Rivers United duo Victor Sochima and Chidiebube Duru, Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo and  Bendel Insurance’s Divine Nwachukwu were all handed call-up for the game against the Leone Stars.

Top of the list of invited players is in-form Victor Osimhen, whose 31 goals in all competitions for Napoli this season helped the Italian giants claim their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years while also making it far to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Defender William Troost-Ekong, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Samuel Chukwueze are among others called up for the game.

Defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel also got the nod from the tactician while midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho were also named in the 23-man roster.

The Eagles, who are top of their qualification group with nine points, won the last encounter between the two sides 2-1 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on June 9, 2022, and a repeat of that will see the three-time Africa champions qualified for the biennial tournament slated for Ivory next year.

Source Punch Ng

Posted June 10, 2023

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