Sports

FULL LIST: Peseiro Unveils 25-Man Squad For AFCON

Jose Peseiro, Super Eagles head coach, has revealed the 25-player squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Lifestyle Nigeria reports that Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong are among the notable inclusions, with both players returning to the national team after a hiatus.

Earlier this month, the Portuguese coach had released a 40-player provisional squad for the tournament. Notable players listed in the initial squad but omitted from the final team include Terem Moffi, Paul Onuachu, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, and Emmanuel Dennis.

Ojo Olorunleke of Enyimba is the only home-based player in the squad, with Amas Obasogie and Christian Nwoke missing the cut.

The squad comprises three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders, and eight forwards.

Newly crowned African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, is included along with Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze.

The Super Eagles will have a one-week training camp in Abu Dhabi, UAE, before heading to Ivory Coast on January 10, 2024.

Nigeria is placed in Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau for the AFCON group stage.

Nigeria will take on Equatorial Guinea in their opening game before facing Ivory Coast and rounding off the group stage with the Guinea-Bissau tie.

The absence of Moffi, Onuachu, and other notable players is expected to spark discussions among football enthusiasts, but Peseiro and the coaching staff have made their decisions in preparation for the continental competition. The Super Eagles aim to perform well in Group A and progress further in the AFCON tournament.

Musa has not played for the Super Eagles since the game against Guinea-Bissau in March 2023, while Ekong’s last match was against Portugal in November 2022. However, both players will feature for the team at the 34th AFCON scheduled to hold in Ivory Coast.

See Full List Of Invited Players:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika, Greece); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Related Topics:25Man AFCON Full list Peseiro Squad unveils

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Super Falcons Qualify For Olympics – First Time In 16 Years

Nigeria’s women’s football team, the Super Falcons, have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Lifestyle Nigeria reports that the team secured their spot after beating South Africa 1-0 on aggregate during the qualifiers.

Rasheedat Ajibade scored the winning goal from the spot during the first leg of the qualifiers held in Abuja on Friday.

This was enough to secure one of Africa’s tickets for the women’s football event of the Paris Olympics, as the second leg tie ended in a draw in South Africa.

It is worth noting that this is the first time Nigeria’s Super Falcons have qualified for the Olympics in 16 years.

The team has a rich history with South Africa, having played several times since their 7-1 win against South Africa in a 1995 World Cup qualifier in Johannesburg.

In a total of 24 matches, Nigeria has won 15 times, five ended in draws, and South Africa has claimed victory four times.

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Ex NFL Star O.J. Simpson Is Dead

O.J. Simpson, a former American football player, passed away at the age of 76, after battling cancer.

Lifestyle Nigeria reports that Simpson was popular for his career in the National Football League (NFL) as a talented ball carrier.

He retired from the NFL in 1979 and later gained fame in movies and television shows.

However, his popularity turned to infamy in 1994 when he was arrested as a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

Despite DNA evidence linking him to the murders, he was acquitted, with his attorneys arguing that the allegation was fueled by racism.

Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison in 2008 for armed robbery, where he attempted to reclaim sports memorabilia he insisted had been stolen from him.

He was released on parole after serving nine years in jail.

Sports

Tunde Onakoya To Attempt GWR For Longest Chess Marathon

Tunde Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, has announced his intention to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon without losing a game.

Lifestyle Nigeria reports that on Friday, he made this announcement through a post on his X page.

Onakoya plans to play several chess games for 58 hours without losing a single game.

This feat will take place at Times Square, New York City, on April 17, with the aim of empowering illiterate children across Africa.

The current Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon was achieved by two Norwegians, Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, on November 11, 2018, with a record of 56 hours, 9 minutes and 37 seconds.

“On the 17th of April 2024, I will attempt to break the Guinness World record for the longest Chess marathon in the heart of Times Square New York City for 58 hours without losing a game,” Onakoya wrote.

“Doing this for the dreams of millions of children across Africa without access to education. You guys have been rock solid for me through the years.

“So I need all of us to come together now more than ever to show the world that the Nigerian spirit is unwavering and we can do great things from a small place against all odds.”