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Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro has said it is unfortunate that a couple of players picked up injuries at the more crucial stage of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Peseiro said this on Saturday in Abidjan at the team’s news conference ahead of the country’s first game of the competition on Sunday.
At the news conference, Peseiro confirmed the arrival of Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu for the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.
Iheanacho has been doubtful for the 2023 AFCON. Iheanacho along with Sadiq Umar and Victor Boniface are all out of the first game of the Super Eagles.
Umar and Boniface were replaced by the duo of Paul Onuachu and Terem Moffi due to injury.
Terem Moffi is expected to arrive in Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday with the opening ceremony of the AFCON 2023 set for later today.
During the team’s training session on Friday, Osimhen was kept aside from all physical contact; a precautionary move as the only fit striker in the team.
He was also instructed to avoid going into any tackle or aggressive contact in the team’s remaining training sessions ahead of the game.
Team Captain, Ahmed Musa, was deployed to the role of a backup striker.
Initially picked to play in his natural role as a winger, Musa is now expected to go into the first game as the deputy striker in the absence of Moffi, Iheanacho and Onuachu.
With unity of purpose, Nigeria will win 2023 AFCON – Awoniyi
Meanwhile, Super Eagles of Nigeria and Nottingham Forest of England striker, Taiwo Awoniyi has said with unity of purpose on the pitch, the Super Eagles can win the 2023 AFCON.
Awoniyi said this in a telephone interview from his base in England on Saturday. He stressed the Super Eagles possessed the needed qualities to win the biggest football show piece in Africa.
“If we play as a unit, I don’t see any nation at this AFCON that can stop us.
“With God on our side and the quality of players in this present Super Eagles, we will do it again,” Awoniyi said.
Awoniyi said he was disappointed not to be part of the tournament but had no reason to question God because he believed everything happened for good.
He said it was a tournament that every player would like to participate in at one point or the other in their career.
Awoniyi was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury he picked up on club duty.