In the lead-up to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, former Super Eagles defender, Sam Sodje, has voiced his discontent with the composition of the Nigerian national team’s squad. Head coach Jose Peseiro recently revealed the 25-man squad for the highly anticipated competition.
Sodje expressed his concern regarding the imbalance within the squad, highlighting the absence of a creative player in the midfield. In an interview with Brila FM, he remarked, “We are going to the AFCON with an imbalanced squad, we are taking too many strikers, we are lacking that creativity in the midfield where players can pass the ball forward and create chances to win games.”
The former Reading centre-back also raised apprehensions about the team’s defense and goalkeeping department, emphasizing the pivotal role of a solid defensive line in achieving success at the tournament. “We are going with too many side-passing players, no disrespect to the players, and we’ve been conceding goals left, right, and center. We should stop that because a solid defense is the benchmark to win a tournament,” Sodje asserted.
Furthermore, he underscored the well-known challenges within the goalkeeping department, adding another layer of concern to the team’s overall readiness for the upcoming tournament. Despite these reservations, Sodje reaffirmed his unwavering support for the Super Eagles, stating, “So if you put all these together, there are reasons to be worried, but we are fans of the Super Eagles, and we will support them.”
As Nigeria prepares to compete on the continental stage, Sodje’s critique sheds light on the potential hurdles that the Super Eagles may encounter. With the AFCON 2023 on the horizon, the nation’s fervent football enthusiasts eagerly await the team’s response to these pressing concerns.
