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By Derrick E. Bangura
The Confederation of African Football has recently unveiled the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s new squad numbers for the incoming AFCON 2022 tournament, scheduled to commence in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6 2022, after twice being postponed due to Covid-19, and with significant doubt about whether it would take place at all.
The 33rd Africa Cup of Nations AFCON, will begin with over 52 matches to be watched and it’s no doubt that some of the best Premier League players will be on show, the tournament is enjoying a higher profile than ever before.
According to the disclosure, in the goalkeeping department, Maduka Okoye will wear the number one jersey, while Francis Uzoho will put on the 23, Daniel Akpeyi gets the number 16 jersey, while John Noble will wear 27.
Others are Semi Ajayi – 6, Frank Onyeka – 8, Kelechi Nwakali – 25, Joe Aribo – 10, Odion Ighalo – 9, Chidera Ejuke – 13, Taiwo Awoniyi – 19, Umar Sadiq – 24.
Nigeria who is drawn in Group D alongside Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea Bissau will kick off their AFCON 2021 campaign against 7-time winners, Egypt on Tuesday, January 11.
Meanwhile, Nigerian professional footballer and Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has been bereaved.
Reports confirmed that the 29-year-old player missed the Super Eagles’ last training session after receiving the sad news.
He has since been granted permission by the National Team management to leave the team’s camp to be with family members.
Musa is, however, expected to join his teammates in Cameroon ahead of Nigeria’s first game of the competition against Egypt on January 11.
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Cameroon is the hosts Country and will hold ambitions of participating deep into the tournament, but six nations come into the tournament placed higher in FIFA’s world rankings. Top of the list Senegal, who are the marginal favourites ahead of Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria and the hosts.
After twice failing to qualify, Nigeria reached the semifinals in 2019. The squad aims to go at least one better in this tournament.
Nigeria is in the same group with Egypt, Sudan, Guinea Bissau, led by the former Nigerian Captain Augustine Eguavoen, who also coached the Super Eagles to a third-place finish in Egypt 15 years ago.
He also made a selection for this years’ AFCON 2022, with four Goalkeepers, nine Defenders, five Midfielders and 10 Forwards, which brings about the 28-man list for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
Midfielders: Frank Onyeka( Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Chidera Ejike (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villareal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England ); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England)
This year AFCON tournament has converged its Covid-19 rules ahead to ensure the safety of the fans. AFCON, states that fans must be fully vaccinated and must present a negative Covid-19 test dating back less than 72 hours to gain access to the stadiums during the tournament.
The Minister for Health in Cameroon, Dr Manaouda Malachie also announced that vaccines and tests will be freely made available, he further announced the installation of a vaccination unit for each site in the competition.
We are hopeful that the Super Eagles will break a leg as they make us proud as the Giant of Africa.
