Ekong, Musa and the 8 AFCON Stars Missing As Nigeria Names Squad for Clash Against Ghana and Mali

• The Nigeria Football Federation recently announced the squad list for the March international window
• As many as eight players who participated in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations were omitted from this list
• Sports Brief highlights the respective reasons these players might have been excluded from the team

As many as eight players who helped Nigeria clinch silver at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast were omitted from the team list for the International friendlies against Ghana and Mali.

Though without a recognised head coach, following the departure of Jose Peseiro, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) released a 26-man list ahead of the international window.

The Super Eagles, slated to convene in Marrakech, Morocco, for their fixtures against the Black Stars and Les Aigles, unveiled a lineup devoid of familiar faces such as captain, Ahmed Musa, vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong, defenders, Ola Aina and Zaidu Sanusi, and forwards, Terem Moffi, Paul Onuachu, Samuel Chukwueze and Joe Aribo.

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In their places, the squad welcomed fresh additions, including Gabriel Osho and Benjamin Tanimu, alongside returning talents who missed out on the AFCON, such as Sadiq Umar, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tyronne Ebuehi, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, Jamilu Collins, and Wilfred Ndidi.

Given these developments, Sports Brief explores the reasons behind the omission of these players, despite their significant contributions during the AFCON campaign.

Players omitted from Super Eagles list

Ahmed Musa

The 31-year-old, who notably didn't make an appearance during the prestigious event in Ivory Coast, finds himself currently unattached to any club after mutually terminating his contract with Turkish Super Lig side, Sivasspor, as reported by Complete Sports.

The pacy forward has, however, been seen alongside the Governor of Kano State, actively engaging in philanthropic efforts aimed at sports development.

William Troost-Ekong

The 30-year-old is ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season after playing with muscle cramps throughout the duration of the AFCON. The combative defender eventually underwent surgery, which will see his potential return date coincide with the Super Eagles' competitive fixture against South Africa in June.

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Ola Aina

The talented fullback has just resumed training after playing through much of the AFCON knockout rounds with an injury.

The 27-year-old, who was named in the competition's Team of the Tournament, was diagnosed with a knock that sidelined him for much of February and early March.

Zaidu Sanusi

The FC Porto fullback unfortunately ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) upon his return to club action during the match against Estrela da Amadora. The tenacious defender was substituted after just 32 minutes on the field. Zaidu had already missed three months leading up to the AFCON due to injury.

Terem Moffi

The omission of the OGC Nice forward came as a surprise, as he was initially included in the Super Eagles team for the AFCON as a replacement for Victor Boniface, who was injured. With Boniface still recovering, many expected the 24-year-old to be included in the squad. However, Nottingham Forest star, Taiwo Awoniyi, was selected ahead of Moffi.

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Joe Aribo

The former Rangers midfielder's underwhelming performance throughout the 2023-24 season seems to have persisted even after the AFCON. The Southampton star has experienced a significant reduction in playing time, which is speculated to be the reason for his omission.

Samuel Chukwueze

The AC Milan winger has struggled to find his form since transferring to Serie A in the summer of 2023. This loss of form persisted through the AFCON and beyond. Recently, the 24-year-old was called out by coach, Stefano Pioli, to improve his performance.

Paul Onuachu

The Trabzonspor forward also misses out after suffering a broken foot injury in the Turkish Cup quarter-final clash against Istanbul Basaksehir. The 29-year-old is expected to be out of action until at least the end of April.

Super Eagles list sparks reaction

In an earlier report, Sports Brief stated that the Super Eagles of Nigeria team list has sparked reactions from fans.

A host of fans queried the absence of a coach during the squad announcement, while others questioned the exclusions of certain players from the team.